Fixation eating and the"Sudden Ick"
When your favorite food suddenly turns into your mortal enemy — ADHD edition.
‘When we find our new favorite dish and eat it obsessively until the switch inside us flips...’
Do you ever find that one food? That one perfect, delicious, flawless thing that you could happily eat for every single meal? I do. For a week, a month, maybe even two, it's my whole world. Then, without warning, the "sudden ick" hits. It's an unspoken breakup with a food that was a lifeline for the last couple weeks. If this sounds like you, then you're definitely not alone.
My Culinary Soulmate
For me, that soulmate was couscous. Not in a fancy, gourmet way, but in the best ADHD way possible: the "shit in a pan" way. You know I love the one-pan concept, and for a glorious few weeks, my perfect meal was simply whatever pre-marinated meat or ready-to-go veggies I had, all thrown into a pan with some quick-cooking couscous. (I talk about it here)
It was everything my brain needed. It was fast, it was reliable, and it required almost zero executive function to make. I didn't have to think about what to eat for dinner. It was always going to be couscous. I kept the ingredients on hand, and every time I ate it, I felt a deep sense of calm, like I’d cracked the code to easy dinners. It was the food equivalent of finding a quiet corner in a loud room. The real irony? The "ick" often kicks in as soon as I stop buying the small, expensive bags and commit to the big, more economical one like I’m some kind of 90s rom com lead afraid of comittment.
The Unspoken Breakup
So, inevitably, it happened. I opened the pantry, saw the giant container of couscous, and felt a wave of complete and utter disinterest. It wasn’t that I suddenly disliked the taste; it was a deeper, more profound feeling of "I just... can't." The thought of eating it again was no longer comforting—it was stomach churning. The magic was gone.
Now, that half-used container of couscous sits in my pantry, a relic of a simpler time. I can't bring myself to throw it out because I still remember how much I loved it, but I know, in my heart, that our time together has passed.
The "Why" From My Couch
I’ve started to think of it like this: my ADHD brain gets hooked on something because of the dopamine rush and the novelty. A new food is exciting, and a simple, reliable meal reduces the mental load, which is a huge win for an ADHD brain. The "honeymoon phase" is great because it takes all the stress out of mealtime.
As the ADHD Association of America notes, “if you have ADHD, you’re more likely to fixate on something enjoyable or rewarding. This happens because ADHD changes how your brain perceives reward and gratification.” This quote perfectly captures the initial intense appeal of a "safe" food. Your brain is seeking a quick hit of stimulation and the comfort of a low-effort routine. But once that low-effort routine loses its shiny newness, the hyper-focus fades, and the "ick" kicks in. It's a natural part of how an ADHD brain works, and it's nothing to feel guilty or bad about.
Your Turn
So, to all my fellow fixation eaters, you're not alone. What's a food you've had a "sudden ick" with? Share your culinary soulmates (and breakups) in the comments!
