I've Eaten Only Mac & Cheese for the Past 17 Years, Here's Why

14,962,274
0
Published 2019-10-13
For most people, eating nothing but mac and cheese seems like a childhood fantasy. But for 20-year-old Austin Davis, who has been eating nothing but mac and cheese for the past 17 years, it’s not a fantasy -- it’s his reality and has become his affliction. For Austin, it’s about much more than just “liking” mac and cheese. Austin suffers from Selective Eating Disorder, also known as Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, an anxiety disorder that’s characterized by the persistent refusal to eat specific foods or refusal to eat any type of food due to a negative response from certain sensory characteristics of that food.

VICE travels to Florida to meet Austin to learn more about the origins of his eating disorder and join him as he embarks on his journey towards recovery.

For more information and resources about eating disorders including ARFID, please visit www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/

Watch our full video on what it's like to live with an eating disorder:    • I've Eaten Only Mac & Cheese for the …

Click here to subscribe to VICE: bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE

About VICE:
The Definitive Guide To Enlightening Information. From every corner of the planet, our immersive, caustic, ground-breaking and often bizarre stories have changed the way people think about culture, crime, art, parties, fashion, protest, the internet and other subjects that don't even have names yet. Browse the growing library and discover corners of the world you never knew existed. Welcome to VICE.

Connect with VICE:
Check out our full video catalog: bit.ly/VICE-Videos
Videos, daily editorial and more: vice.com/
More videos from the VICE network: www.fb.com/vicevideo
Click here to get the best of VICE daily: bit.ly/1SquZ6v
Like VICE on Facebook: fb.com/vice
Follow VICE on Twitter: twitter.com/vice
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/vice

The VICE YouTube Network:
VICE: youtube.com/VICE
MUNCHIES: youtube.com/MUNCHIES
VICE News: youtube.com/VICENews
VICELAND: youtube.com/VICELANDTV
Broadly: youtube.com/Broadly
Noisey: youtube.com/Noisey
Motherboard: youtube.com/MotherboardTV
VICE Sports: youtube.com/NOC
i-D: youtube.com/iDmagazine
Waypoint: youtube.com/WaypointVICE

All Comments (21)
  • @VICE
    ¿Quieres ver el video en español? Haz clic en el botón de configuración para cambiar la pista de audio. Want to watch this in Spanish? Head over to the settings button to change the audio track.
  • @steveeb00
    He's essentially a vegetarian, but since he doesn't eat any vege's, he's just a tarian.
  • @ey7103
    the most surprising thing is that velveeta could keep someone alive for 17 years
  • @fuzziebunnie83
    The fact that he even has to use the same pan, tells me that this is much more of a psychological issue.
  • @Oftly
    When he said he was 20, I realized how much his diet fucked him up. Thought he was at least 35.
  • @alexandr26735
    This dude is a hero - just imagine how mentally strong you should be to discuss this publicly.
  • @escanor9920
    If I was VELVEETA's CEO I would hire this dude for all my commercials !
  • @AaronJ180
    “If a different pan gets used, like.. I can tell.” Words of a true connoisseur
  • "I'm sick of it but I don't want anything else" Sounds like a toxic relationship.
  • @fongtrees
    If anyone wants an update, I found this on his reddit 3 months ago: "my diet has expanded pretty significantly! i can now eat basically any simple pasta, tons of different junk foods, different types of mac n cheese, some fruits, and i have also eaten and somewhat enjoyed chicken breast"
  • @MH-bv3hc
    Need an update on this guy. Hope he's doing better!
  • @randimay3520
    This guy is so chill even with his issue. Love his sense of humor lol. Wish him the best.
  • It honestly sounds like an anxiety-related problem. I think it's good that he's looking into therapy.
  • When he's twenty and his addiction is seventeen, you know that the problem began not with him but probably his parents...
  • He looks exactly how I would envision a guy who only eats Mac & Cheese to look.