I also fear a lot of fruits and vegetables. Not necessarily because of them containing naturally-occurring sugars, but because they seem difficult to properly calorie-count. I get so overwhelmed trying to figure out if a piece of fresh fruit counts as “small” or “large” that I give up and often only buy canned stuff or whatever.

So…I just bought a miniature scale for my kitchen so I will know exactly how a given apple/orange/banana fits into my calorie budget.

Would that help you at all?

‘Cause it’s definitely worth it to find a way to still include a variety of produce in your diet.
Could help prevent or at least delay the emergence of some side effects that often crop up with food restriction.

 

This is obviously very dumb, I will happily eat plenty of "worse" foods, but still get quite rigid about fruit.

having some, but if I've already had x amount that day I can't have any more etc

How do I get over this?

No advice unfortunately but it’d really suck (at least for me) since I loveeeee fruit.

 

Can you pinpoint why you’re afraid of fruit?

Fruits are high in fiber, so TMI they help me “go”, esp apples (which is always a plus with EDs). They are mostly carbs (and water) which can be scary, but carbs also give energy and most fruit is practically pre-portioned which can be reassuring.

 

Thank you! I think what makes me most anxious is the sugar

doesn't really make sense cos it comes with so much fibre and nutrients and other goodies

I eat plenty of other carbs without getting anywhere near as anxious, I will eat bread, rice etc, hence, no sense made

 

Veggies I have zero fear of including high cal stuff like eating a whole avocado and high carb like having several potatoes 🙃

 

I don't eat fruits and vegetables either but because of afraid. I don't like the texture. I can eat a snickers bar with no problem though it's weird.

 

The amount of times people have said "fruit is so full of sugar" like it's somewhat as bad as processed sugary foods is insane. I am not surprised if it's a scary food for you.

 

I feel seen by this. I've got IBS, and a lot of fruit and veggies set it off. I also don't feel...safe exactly at this point in my disorder eating things that aren't prepackaged with a calorie count. Even though fruit and veggies are so low it wouldn't matter, my stupid brain is treating them like poison.

 

I have such an irrational fear of grapes. I don't know why.

 

Agree with the commenters here that mentioned how a lot of people (especially with keto diets having come back in recent years in popular media) have cited the sugar content of fruit; that’s just making a devil out of a perfectly innocent, natural food! Completely understandable that you would be apprehensive…

do you think you could try introducing one or two lower sugar fruits, like raspberries (even keto folks allow for some berries; they’re less sugary than others), and then seeing if you get comfortable with them? Even just a couple berries spread out in the day, to get acclimated. Then if and when you feel more comfortable, you can start branching out to the next one? — small, incremental changes are (in my experience) a lot easier to incorporate than just going all in (although the exposure approach does work really well for others; I guess it depends on the person and the situation)

Also…

Saaaaame here, but I have an inkling as to why; I can eat a lot of grapes, so I have a fear of eating too many
(I also would eat grapes with natural pb — probably odd I know, but… — so also afraid I’d start that up again and overdo it )

stay safe! Best wishes

 

What if you picked a vitamin or nutrient that you feel like you don't get enough of in your diet? For example, vitamin C. Then add in a single small portion of a fruit like raspberries. You can try thinking about and focusing on eating the vitamin C, not necessarily the fear fruit itself.

Start small, and every few days try with a different fruit. Eventually work your way into full sized servings and more fruit/variety.

 

I hate fruit and I’m afraid to eat anything I don’t love (waste of eating) so yep I’m afraid of fruit

 

I used to be afraid of fruit. Because I was convinced the sugars in fruit were making me gain weight. Eventually I traded my fear of fruit for an irrational fear of calories lol. But I no longer fear fruits or veggies- in fact, they are now my only safe foods. The sugars in fruit are complex sugars and will help with low blood sugar- hypoglycemia is frightening and super common in folks with an Ed. But the complex sugars are helpful in keeping it up, mostly.

Also, if you compare the volume of fruit you can eat, sugars and calories next to anything else, generally speaking, you’ll be able to have way higher volume (more filling) for the same calories with less sugar content and complex over simple sugars (the bad ones). 🤷🏻‍♀️

 

Also, I think one thing that really helped me was this kick I went on where I want to taste the various varieties of apples to see what I think and I describe their flavor as a fun hobby I suppose. Also watermelon- imo may be the most perfect food. High volume, low calorie, filling, hydrating, delicious… mostly water lol.

 

No i understand

 

What Are Polyphenols? Types, Benefits, and Food Sources passing this on if anyone needs one extra incentive to challenge their fruit fears

 

Yup! 💯
Their polyphenols and their potassium content is what is motivating me to not just shrug and say “eh, whatever, my protein shakes are fortified with vitamins, I got everything I need🤷🏻”
Now that I have a food scale I have run out of excuses for avoiding fruit. 🍏🍊🍌⚖🥭🍑🍍