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There are foods and beverages I find tasty but do not want to consume. Is this a autism thing?
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ThunderComplex lemmy.today ThunderComplex@lemmy.today
Joined: 2023-10-08
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So I haven't done any research into this topic besides a quick google search, but there's something weird about me that I don't know if it's normal or a weird autistic trait.

Some foods and beverages I find tasty, like most recently I tried a new grapefruit soda and I really enjoyed the taste. But after the 2nd bottle I was dreading the third. But it's not because I don't like the taste I don't think, it's still tasty.. but also repulsive at the same time?

I've had this with many types of food over the years, and I can assure you this isn't about overconsumption.

What confuses me the most about this is the stark dichotomy between liking something and getting queasy at the thought of consuming it. That definitely sounds like it would be a neurodivergent trait, but I've never heard anyone talk about this.

So.. anyone relate to this?

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Broadfern lemmy.world Broadfern@lemmy.world
Joined: 2025-02-03
#2 · Quote Reply

Uhh, maybe?

I think it might be to do with the feeling of obligation. I don’t have it with foods as frequently as you seem to, but I have a similarly recurring issue with video games.

I can absolutely adore a game but past a certain point it twists into anxiety for no real reason other than the idea that I have to “fully” finish it. It’s not reasonable but it’s how my brain works.

So maybe..self imposed demand meets demand avoidance?

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Kojichan lemmy.world Kojichan@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-05-10
#3 · Quote Reply

Uhh, maybe? I think it might be to do with the feeling of obligation. I don’t have it with foods as frequently as you seem to, but I have a similarly recurring issue with video games. I can absolutely adore a game but past a certain point it twists into anxiety for no real reason other than the idea that I have to “fully” finish it. It’s not reasonable but it’s how my brain works. So maybe..sel...

Same sentiments about gaming for me. I dropped DragonQuest 11 in the middle because of some huge arse plot twist that gutted me. Didn't feel like finishing the chore...

Maybe after some time it might be okay to start over or see if I can finish.

Then again, I have so many Stardew Valley saves under 2 years in-game time...

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Kojichan lemmy.world Kojichan@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-05-10
#4 · Quote Reply

I sort of relate about the food thing.

I find it have micro over-saturated stages for food and drinks. I love alternating so I dont have the same flavor profile on my tongue at any time.

I do get sick of leftovers. Don't like eating the same thing twice in the span of a week.

Same thing with types of flavors... sweet needs to come after salty, then sweet again sort of thing.

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BeBopALouie lemmy.ca Bebopalouie@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-03-10
#5 · Quote Reply

Not sure if related, on top of autism it could also be that I have aphantasia and anendophasia and a bit of ye old ADHD for good measure.
With that being said, I am so damn picky I annoy myself. I do not like mixed stuff. No flavour combos of any type (Juices or food). Just meat and potatoes, rarely sauces (Just Lawrys seasoned salt). Vegetables literally make me ill and fuck up my gut and going to the bathroom. Good thing all veggies taste like charcoal to me or I would be tempted to eat them. I only drink water, the odd fruit juice if it is real, hot chocolate or tea made a certain way. To make things really weird, I love Marmite. I can eat it straight out of the jar. Very bizarre for someone who hates veggies.

It really sucks but my palate is my palate and I have to live with it.

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Jul piefed.blahaj.zone irotsoma@piefed.blahaj.zone
Joined: 2025-09-25
#6 · Quote Reply

Two situations I have similar reactions. For reference I am AuDHD, so not sure where these come from exactly.

The first is once I've had something too often I get tired of it to the point that it becomes extremely repulsive even if I couldn't get enough just days before.

The second is that my body generally tends to tell me when I have too much of something mildly harmful. That can be acidic foods, even though I absolutely love tart/sour things or fatty or salty foods. Often this results in nausea if I push past the repulsion. I do have GERD/reflux issues, treated with meds, so the acid thing might be related, but not sure about the salt thing, especially since I often crave salt and often get very dehydrated if I don't eat enough of it. Other things also do this that are not allergies (I've gotten tested), it something just makes me repulsed and eventually nauseous if I eat them despite enjoying the taste of them: crawfish, lobster, pineapple, anything with menthol like some artificial mint flavored things, and certain artificial sweeteners are a few that come to mind. Not sure if my body is just really good at telling me what I need, or there's some psychosomatic reaction going on to some past issues I might have had with them like food poisoning or something like that maybe. Or if any of that is related to any neurodivergence. But those are my experiences with food repulsion despite enjoying the flavor.

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ThunderComplex lemmy.today ThunderComplex@lemmy.today
Joined: 2023-10-08
#7 · Quote Reply

Not sure if related, on top of autism it could also be that I have aphantasia and anendophasia and a bit of ye old ADHD for good measure. With that being said, I am so damn picky I annoy myself. I do not like mixed stuff. No flavour combos of any type (Juices or food). Just meat and potatoes, rarely sauces (Just Lawrys seasoned salt). Vegetables literally make me ill and fuck up my gut and goin...

I've heard that quite a lot about autism; but I really do like mixing food. And even tho I would consider myself picky, I do like quite a variety of foods.
Tho I guess the advantage you have is that it makes cooking and grocery shopping easier?

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ThunderComplex lemmy.today ThunderComplex@lemmy.today
Joined: 2023-10-08
#8 · Quote Reply

I sort of relate about the food thing. I find it have micro over-saturated stages for food and drinks. I love alternating so I dont have the same flavor profile on my tongue at any time. I do get sick of leftovers. Don't like eating the same thing twice in the span of a week. Same thing with types of flavors... sweet needs to come after salty, then sweet again sort of thing.

For me this absolutely depends on the food. Some things I can eat like once per quarter, other things I wouldn't mind eating almost daily.
Leftovers are fine for me, and because I can't eat a full meal anyway they're a normal part of life for me now.

3
ThunderComplex lemmy.today ThunderComplex@lemmy.today
Joined: 2023-10-08
#9 · Quote Reply

Uhh, maybe? I think it might be to do with the feeling of obligation. I don’t have it with foods as frequently as you seem to, but I have a similarly recurring issue with video games. I can absolutely adore a game but past a certain point it twists into anxiety for no real reason other than the idea that I have to “fully” finish it. It’s not reasonable but it’s how my brain works. So maybe..sel...

Interesting take, but that doesn't explain why that only affects a few types of foods and beverages, and not all of them.

I don't really have the same thing you mention for video games. I play a lot of games and I don't feel like having to see them thru to get the full experience. Sometimes I'll try to stick with a game to the end even if I don't like it, but Expedition 33 broke that pattern for me. That was the game that finally flipped the switch in my brain that seeing a game thru to the end isn't worth it if it's not a enjoyable experience to get there.

3
ThunderComplex lemmy.today ThunderComplex@lemmy.today
Joined: 2023-10-08
#10 · Quote Reply

Same sentiments about gaming for me. I dropped DragonQuest 11 in the middle because of some huge arse plot twist that gutted me. Didn't feel like finishing the chore... Maybe after some time it might be okay to start over or see if I can finish. Then again, I have so many Stardew Valley saves under 2 years in-game time...

What a coincidence, I was recently thinking about getting into DragonQuest 11.

1
Kojichan lemmy.world Kojichan@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-05-10
#11 · Quote Reply

For me this absolutely depends on the food. Some things I can eat like once per quarter, other things I wouldn't mind eating almost daily. Leftovers are fine for me, and because I can't eat a full meal anyway they're a normal part of life for me now.

I could eat (medium/short grain) white rice daily. I think thats one food I absolutely love.

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Kojichan lemmy.world Kojichan@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-05-10
#12 · Quote Reply

What a coincidence, I was recently thinking about getting into DragonQuest 11.

I honestly would suggest it! It's honestly a great game. Same scenario writer as Chrono Trigger.

I'm just being too butt-hurt about the story point I mentioned. Guarantee other people won't have an issue with it.

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ThunderComplex lemmy.today ThunderComplex@lemmy.today
Joined: 2023-10-08
#13 · Quote Reply

I honestly would suggest it! It's honestly a great game. Same scenario writer as Chrono Trigger. I'm just being too butt-hurt about the story point I mentioned. Guarantee other people won't have an issue with it.

Ok maybe I will :D

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BeBopALouie lemmy.ca Bebopalouie@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-03-10
#14 · Quote Reply

I've heard that quite a lot about autism; but I really do like mixing food. And even tho I would consider myself picky, I do like quite a variety of foods. Tho I guess the advantage you have is that it makes cooking and grocery shopping easier?

For me it is definitely easier. When I go out to eat or eat at relatives it is a different story. Not wanting to make waves I would just eat what did not bother me if available. I also would separate the food or if nothing I like I would just do without.

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CultLeader4Hire lemmy.world CultLeader4Hire@lemmy.world
Joined: 2026-03-28
#15 · Quote Reply

I was like this until I started taking Mirtazapine, it didn’t matter if I would love it I didn’t want to eat it, anything sweet or carby fell into this category for me. Since starting Mirtazapine I like food more in general and no longer have an aversion to foods I enjoy

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JamesBoeing737MAX sopuli.xyz JamesBoeing737MAX@sopuli.xyz
Joined: 2024-09-04
#16 · Quote Reply

The food could be tasty, but not good for you. That's why you could find it repulsive. Pretty understandable.

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Thoven lemdro.id Thoven@lemdro.id
Joined: 2023-07-31
#17 · Quote Reply

Don't know if it's an autism thing, but I get it too. I describe it as the difference between liking something and craving it. There may be something I think of as just ok but find myself reaching for all the time. That's a high craving food to me. On the flip side, there may be something that I really enjoy every time I have it but I never want it. Low craving.

2
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