Orthorexia Nervosa (obsessed with health foods)?

Yes, it is a problem. It is an eating disorder just the same as anorexia, bulimia, BED, or EDNOS. It's not normal; it's an unhealthy obsession. Those with orthorexia eat only what they deem healthy and have no sense of moderation with 'junk' foods. They often cut entire food groups out of their diets. Many are also excessive exercisers. It's a mental disorder and should never be taken lightly. When food and exercise gets in the way of friends, family, and what YOU enjoy, then there's something wrong.

I think you have to follow whatever is right for you. Short of actually harming yourself, why is it anyone else's business? And even then, it would be your immediate family's business.

I have gone veggie over the last few months. And if you'd told me at any time ever in my life that I would go veggie, I would have laughed.

But I became deathly ill with a gastrointestinal infection during a trip to Peru two years ago and continued to have a lot of GI problems after. I saw specialist after specialist as they ruled out all sorts of things and finally came up with a diagnosis of post-infectious motility disorder. I told them I'd tried everything under the sun diet-wise and they said a hallmark of PIMD is not being able to find a diet-related cure and to not bother trying - that I'd just drive myself crazy. They said it would take up to 5 years for my body to return to normal.

Anyway. Fast forward almost 2 years and it was making me so miserable that I spent 24/7 feeling awful.

I had got to a point where every time I put a piece of meat in my mouth I would instantly - and I do mean instantly - have heartburn, reflux, my chest seizing up tight, etc, so I thought, fine, I'm just going to cut out meat. Let's see if anything happens. One full day passed and when I went on my next morning's walk, I felt a little better, less like I was going to throw up. And the next day got even better, so on and so on, until I couldn't imagine why I would ever want to have another bite of meat if I could feel that good without it.

I'd forgotten what it felt like to feel normal, to be without pain, and I don't know if the intensity of your symptoms was anything like that, but if it was, I don't blame you at all for clinging to your restrictions so strictly. You have to do what works for you.

I'm not sure what the original post was before editing, so I'm kind of reacting to gwenr for the context.

I saw that sort of behavior when I was a kid with my best friend's dad. The whole family was healthy, no issues with health or weight, but my friend's dad was very weird about food restriction. He would not allow fat or sugar in the house. We'd go to bake cookies (as 10-year old girls will do) and every container that was supposed to have sugar in it would be crammed with artificial sweetener packets. The fridge was stocked with fat-free products to replace oils, butter, cheese, etc. My friend would crave the stuff so bad that she'd grab mayonnaise packets off the salad bar at school and just eat the whole thing (not on a sandwich or something, mind you, just sucked it right out of the packet).

He did it in the interests of health (and was very thin as a result) and was a nice guy, but the behavior was certainly harmful in some ways (probably more than the ways in which it was beneficial).

I'm worried about my daughter being this way. She is a sugar hog and the reason I restrict her and my son is because they have ADHD symptoms as well. So rather than dope them up on Ritalin, I control their sugar. But the cravings are there and fruit just isn't enough to make her happy. On some days I give in. But I'm worried about them having gluten issues too. Since being on a restricted diet, both kids are performing in school very well; but is that my diet's fault or is it just maturity? Who knows... I wanna take credit, but like which diet to follow, one can never be for certain.

I have ADHD as well, so I'm speaking from experience when I say that diet can't necessarily control everything. ADHD can be a crippling problem and while I understand that many parents don't want to medicate, medication is not necessarily a bad thing. Medication that helps is something to be sought out rather than avoided.

What sort of restricted diet do you have your kids on? You mentioned that you don't have insurance, but have you had a pediatrician give you the thumbs-up on it? Children's dietary needs are very different from adults' and restricting their diet without making sure it's a healthy option for them isn't a good idea. Don't think that they will do well on what you do well on. Definitely contact a health professional about the kids' dietary needs.