He watches every episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. He comments and is intrigued by every ingredient.

“Bacon and eggs?!”
“Yeah, soup!”
“Big, big, big sandwich!”

He watches intently as someone renders duck fat, creates a roux, smokes the perfect brisket and mashes potatoes. He likes to eat and watch. He loves Guy Fieri. He wants him to come over for dinner.

But, Ethan would NEVER eat anything they cook on that show.

He has an EXTREMELY limited diet. 4 foods are in constant rotation. Like 1-2-3-4.

Quessadillas
Pizza
Popcorn Chicken
Bacon

For honesty’s sake, there is a very rare occasion when he eats something ‘new’. It is very rare and has never added that food to his rotation. Sometimes he eats 3/4 of something and then insists that it was ‘yucky’. Sometimes he requests something and once it is cooked or ordered – decides it is ‘yucky’. Frustrating does not do justice to this behavior. There are chips and salsa, and he will eat other things battered and fried – as long as it looks like popcorn chicken. 2 times a year, he eats a bowl of Cheerios.

Between the ages of 18 months and 3 years, the term ‘pediatric anorexia’ was used to describe him. Getting him to ingest anything was a daily struggle and a full-time job. It continued for many years. We have sought the help of many speech and feeding specialists – at one time he was in ‘feeding therapy’ 3 times a week for several years. We have worked with behaviorists and nutritionists. We have tried all manner of approaches. He is one tough nut to crack. Many kids on the autistic spectrum have ‘food issues’.

There is a lot involved in his eating disorder. Sometimes it makes life hard – and sometimes it makes it easy. Either way, we are stuck with it. And while Guy is profiling someone who makes the best blackened catfish with mango salsa, Ethan will be eating two slices of pizza – one plain, one pepperoni. Always.