A man suffering from a rare medical condition claims he has never eaten fruit, vegetables, or meat, and survives on a daily menu of just two loaves of bread. Thomas Sheridan, 35, reportedly feels such intense disgust at the idea of eating a sandwich with egg or sausage that it can make him physically ill.
After decades of an extreme aversion to food and being labeled a "picky eater," Thomas was diagnosed in 2023, at the age of 33, with ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) — a psychological eating disorder that causes restrictive and avoidant eating behaviors. The condition makes it nearly impossible for him to consume basic foods, and he lacks any exposure to a variety of tastes or textures, as even the thought of eating fruits or vegetables leads to physical nausea.
He currently lives on a diet of white bread toast with butter, three bowls of Shreddies cereal, Haribo gummy candies, and protein supplements to compensate for missing vitamins. Despite this, he continues to long for the day when he might be able to enjoy a warm bowl of stew. He was prescribed antidepressants, but according to him, they have had no significant impact, and he has simply learned to adapt to his condition.
Thomas is now attempting to raise $8,000 to fund private hypnotherapy treatment, which he believes could help him fulfill his dream of being able to sit and eat a meal with his family. Living in Liverpool and currently unemployed due to his health, he has described his situation as a form of ongoing hardship. He expressed a desire to live a normal life, return to work, and feel like a regular person, noting that the disorder has closed many doors for him.
His aversion to food reportedly began very early in life. He was born weighing 4 kg, and his parents recalled no initial signs of eating difficulties — until, at around 18 months of age, he suddenly stopped accepting food. After being evaluated by various doctors, one had suggested to his parents, Tom (65) and Sheila (59), that they should try starving him until he agreed to eat. His father attempted to incentivize eating with toys and gifts, but nothing worked.
Thomas has explained that he is unable to try new foods because his mouth seems to lock up, and past attempts have ended in overwhelming nausea. During his school years, his parents arranged for him to return home during lunch breaks to eat toast, rather than struggle with school meals. He has said that the disorder did not significantly affect him until adulthood, as he spent his early years in a protective bubble with a small circle of acquaintances. However, in adulthood, he began to notice how others’ attitudes shifted when they learned about his eating disorder. During a college work placement in catering, he recalled doing well in food preparation and even considered studying it further. But when he mentioned it to others, they questioned the idea, pointing out that he couldn’t even eat basic foods like chips.
Social situations have also proven difficult, especially those centered around food, often leaving him feeling isolated. He recalled an instance where, after drinking with friends, everyone expressed a craving for bacon sandwiches. He attempted to make himself a sandwich with egg and sausage, but the moment the egg touched his lips, he became violently ill.
Currently, Thomas is unable to work due to his physical state. He recalled losing 9.5 kg after attempting to work for ten days. His financial struggles make it difficult to afford the specific foods he depends on, such as Weetabix cereal. Recently, he was prescribed dietary supplements to address the many nutritional deficiencies in his limited diet, though he is only able to tolerate very specific and familiar flavors. His restricted food intake has left him severely underweight — at one point, he dropped to just 52 kg.
To maintain his current weight, he follows a rigid and colorless menu: Two loaves of bread a day, three bowls of cereal, and a Hula Hoops potato snack. He has also undergone psychological therapy, which is a standard treatment for ARFID, but he reported that the lack of consistency in care — such as being told he would likely see a different therapist each session — made the process especially challenging.
Unlike more commonly known disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, ARFID remains relatively unfamiliar to the general public and was only added to the World Health Organization’s official list of eating disorders in 2022. The British Dietetic Association had recognized ARFID as an eating disorder as early as 2013. According to the Israeli Guide to Eating Disorders, avoidant/restrictive eating is characterized by a strong aversion to many foods due to their texture, smell, shape, taste, or appearance. People with this disorder tend to eat only a very limited variety of foods and place strict limits on quantity as well. Unlike anorexia nervosa, those with ARFID do not suffer from negative body image or food avoidance due to concerns about weight, shape, or size.
Thomas has stated that he has never met anyone else diagnosed with ARFID. For now, he is focused on raising the necessary funds for private hypnotherapy, hoping it will finally help him broaden his diet — and begin living a more typical life.