“I feel like a lot of men think that’s a weakness when it’s not. His body, however, will reject even something he thinks tastes good.“As soon as it enters my mouth it’s like a sensory overload,” he said. Austin Davis, a 20 year old man who lives in a small Florida town, explains to Vice why he’s eaten nothing but mac and cheese for the past 17 years of his life.

He learned about …it’s not a fantasy — it’s his reality and has become his affliction. If there’s a problem, the weakness is ignoring it.”The 20-year-old Keystone Heights resident has selective eating disorder believed to stem from childhood trauma. He now lives with his grandparents.Davis said the disorder has had a negative impact on his social life. “But my body won’t let me eat anything else. 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. But for 20-year-old Austin Davis… Our coronavirus coverage is free for the first 24 hours. According to the Center for Discover, the condition is often linked to traumatic events.When Austin was a child, he was removed from his home and diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after being physically abused by his father. He says that nine times out of 10 he goes to his “ride or die” brand of Original Velveeta Shells and Cheese. Forget three squares. Austin Davis, a 20-year-old man from Keystone Heights, Florida, claims to eaten almost nothing but macaroni and cheese for the last 17 years of his life. But for 20-year-old Austin Davis, nine times out of 10 he goes to his “ride or die” brand of original Velveeta Shells and Cheese. When Davis is presented with other foods, his reactions range from mild distaste to absolute disgust. He's Only Eaten Mac N Cheese For 17 Years... For most people, eating nothing but mac and cheese seems like a childhood fantasy. Austin Davis, a 20 year old man who lives in a small Florida town, explains to Vice why he’s eaten nothing but mac and cheese for the past 17 years of his life. Austin Davis is 20 years old and for the last 17 years, he has eaten nothing but macaroni and cheese.

I didn’t choose to be like this.”According to therapist Asley McHan, Davis has a selective eating disorder known as avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, a mental condition where new foods can trigger negative physical reactions. Austin Davis eats basically nothing else. For Austin, it’s about much more than just “liking” mac and cheese. “It’s to counteract my terrible, awful carb-filled diet.”His coach, Giovanni Cruz, has told him that he’d have to eat better if he truly wants to get in shape, but understands the struggle and the stigma of living with mental health issues.“When it comes to mental health issues you, if you can’t talk about what’s going on, then you can’t get the help you need,” Cruz said. It sounds like just another wacky Florida Man story: A Florida man has eaten almost nothing but macaroni and cheese for 17 years. 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 known as Selective Eating Disorder (or ARFID).
Some people love eating mac and cheese while others have no choice but to eat it every day. For most people, eating nothing but mac and cheese seems like a childhood fantasy. “Even if I like what I’m trying, I’ll have an involuntary gag.”Davis knows it’s bad for his health and has sought help in the past but said he had trouble finding a therapist who understood his disorder and would accept his insurance.He also works out four times a week, mostly boxing, to try to stay in as good of shape as he can.“I definitely know that I have to maintain physical activity to keep myself fit,” Davis said. Find the latest information at He likes it best straight out of the pot, watching YouTube videos in front of his computer.Sometimes it’s Kraft Deluxe, maybe a four cheese on occasion or Annie’s. Davis said he’s actually sick of eating the same thing and has occasionally tried other foods. When Davis is presented with other foods, his reactions range from mild distaste to absolute disgust.While Davis has a good attitude about his unique diet, he understands that he needs help understanding why this is the only thing he can eat. He doesn’t eat out and maintains few friendships. He wants that to change.“It’s weird for me to think of eating anything that’s not yellow,” he said.The choice is not voluntary. 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. For most people, eating nothing but mac and cheese seems like a childhood fantasy.

But it’s not … The young man admits to consuming just pasta and cheese (the Kraft version with Velveeta, mostly) for roughly 17 years. Bob Evans is pretty good too, he said.But for 20-year-old Austin Davis, nine times out of 10 he goes to his “ride or die” brand of original Velveeta Shells and Cheese.For nearly 17 years, Davis, a resident of Keystone Heights near Gainesville, has eaten nothing but macaroni and cheese.“I don’t want to say I’m addicted to mac and cheese, because it sounds so weird,” he said. For Austin, it’s about much more than just liking mac and cheese.