For me, the idea of not being able to eat food would be tantamount to hell. But for one man, this was a reality. Due to a new treatment, he is finally able to explore the world of food, and it’s quite the journey.
As if one food allergy wasn’t bad enough, Ben Sutter had them all. Everything from nuts to milk to seafood was all out of the question. The only things Ben could eat were rice, potatoes, and corn. That’s unseasoned, too, by the way.
Since he was very young, Ben suffered from eosinophilic gastroenteritis. This meant that any food he consumed would be treated as a threat by his body. As a result, the only thing he could eat was a packaged nutrient drink. For most of his life, this is what he lived off, never knowing the pleasure of a deliciously cooked meal.
Speaking to People, Ben highlighted just how much of our lives are centered around eating. “You sort of realize how much society is built around food…birthday parties and events. There’s always some aspect that involves food, and I think you don’t really realize that until you aren’t able to participate in it.”
A Whole World Of Food Has Opened Up
A new medical prescription has helped Ben fight the effects of his stomach problem. With the new drug, he is able to eat all sorts of new foods. Three months of treatment have allowed him to eat all fruits, vegetables, and meats, excluding seafood and major allergens like milk and eggs.
But it’s not as simple as just chowing down on a huge meal. For almost all of Ben Sutter’s 24 years of life, he has pretty much only drank nutrient drinks. Jumping right in at the deep end with a full roast dinner would blow his mind.
“I’ll never forget coming home from the scope, and I’m sitting down at my apartment. My wife puts a baby carrot in front of me, and I think a piece of celery, because they were both crunchy things,” He recalled, thinking about the beginning of his food journey. “I’m not an anxious person. I don’t typically get nervous – anxiety is not something I’ve had to deal with – but I was sweating, just staring at the food. I was so nervous, so afraid.”
@benlore4 First time ever trying grapes. I have also seen a number of comments saying that I need to try frozen grapes and that will be one of my next adventures. They are surprisingly sugary and granular. I guess I didn’t expect that texture because they look so smooth on the outside. ##Benlore##foodie##foodtiktok##foodtok ♬ original sound – BenLore
On top of this, he has never stretched his stomach. Even a small sandwich is enough to fill him up. Everything from textures to learning how to cook needs to be learned as he begins to eat for the first time. He essentially has the palette of a baby and has years of catching up to do.