I have a friend who is terrified of eating leftovers and home-made food, because them is convinced it will give them food poisoning. Folks with food-based paranoia, what are some strategies you use to help yourself eat? Them can’t afford to eat out for every meal, plus it isn’t healthy.
I went through a phase of this when I was first hospitalised. But it was just a symptom of my overall psychosis where I had lost touch with reality.
Maybe your friend is becoming ill.
If they’re already on meds then I don’t know.
1 Like
Homeless people who lived at a boat shelter in Sweden were given leftovers from restaurants.
Apparently some of the restaurants were really fancy with expensive delicious food.
The rooms were cramped and it was violent.
Here is an article that you may want to copy and paste to your friend:
Here is another one:
And another one:
1 Like
My tip is snacks like crackers or chips or granola bars. When I’m too paranoid to eat real food I know it’s not the best but it’s something.
Also you say he’s only not willing to eat leftovers right? Maybe he could try to make smaller meals so there’s less waste. If he could make single portions it could help. Or microwave meals might help him.
Also if he cooks for himself he could inspect the ingredients? Also does he have anyone he can eat with? I find having someone who can reassure me if I’m scared of my food can help.
Are there certain types of food he’s more willing to eat?
1 Like
Oh god, this was awful. In my mind, there was nothing that could keep people out of my food, short of vacuum sealing every meal and drink. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help.
If I had this problem still, I’d buy a small fridge with a lock on it, that only I had access to. It’s a bitch, because even then delusional paranoia would snowball until it finds a way into that food. Sorry.
2 Likes
They’re probably more likely to get food poisoning from restaurant food than from home cooked food. 
Maybe they could eat single serving frozen microwave meals so there aren’t any leftovers?
3 Likes
I have food paranoia but it involves the delusion that my food has been tampered with and drugged.
This kind of delusion has been with me for a long time.
I don’t know if it’s a true delusion, it might be an ongoing fear of mine.
It never really goes away.
1 Like
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.