'23-year-old Brummie Dave Wheatley|lives with his girlfriend Clare.
He's about to embark|on a new life at university,
but he's struggling|with a dark secret,
a secret smothered in|salt and vinegar.'
Can I just get a portion|of chips, please?
'Dave is addicted to chips.'
My life pretty much|revolves around eating chips.
Just delicious, you know.
Without chips, I wouldn't eat.
It's like a whole bouquet|of flavours.
'Dave's diet consists of chips, chips|and, er, chips
365 days a year for almost 20 years.'
Big French fries - now,|these are absolutely gorgeous.
'And don't even think about|giving him anything else.'
I don't ever eat|fruit or vegetables at all.
I have a problem with the colour|and the smell of the green.
'But now Dave's one-track diet|has finally had its chips.'
It's just stopping me from|living my life to how I want it.
'In Dave's corner|in the fight against chips
will be psychologist|Felix Economakis...'
If your brain is associating
feelings of being powerless|or being bullied with certain foods,
you're gonna build up|a reaction to that.
'..and nutritionist Charlotte Watts.'
A vitamin is something that|we must have in our diets daily.
Without those, this is what|can happen.
'They've got just four weeks|to reverse a habit of a lifetime.
But will Dave be able|to go the distance?'
I feel sick. I feel a bit sick.
I just really, really, really|want some chips.
WOMAN: You feeling a bit fed up?|Yeah, I'm fed up.
I've done nothing but support you,|and you sit there and say that.
I just lost it and I basically|just...just broke down
in a heap on the floor.
(BOTH SOB)
I am so desperate to change|just so I can feel normal.
THEME MUSIC
'Dave's eating problems started|at the age of four.'
They all used to|sit round the table,
and everyone would have their,|like, piece of carved meat
and their broccoli|and their sprouts and things,
and I was always last one|to leave the table
because I was always told, you know,
"Eat what's on your plate -|it's good for you."
And I really didn't like it.
That's how I got spoke to|when I was younger.
Our mum made the meal, whatever it|was, and we all sat down and ate it.
'Dave's parents divorced|when he was young,
so poor Mum got lumbered with|Dave's dodgy diet.'
The compromise for me was|at least I got him to eat something.
OK, it was chips, but I would|make them as healthy as possible
and I'd cook them in the oven|so they weren't surrounded in fat,
but it was chips with David|or nothing at all.
'Nearly 20 years later,|and Dave still has an aversion
to almost all foods|except his beloved chips.
And don't get him started|on the veggies.'
For me, I think I'm really,|really sort of afraid of, like,
green foods, or the smell of|green food when you break it open.
Just that whiff gets into you|and I'm just, like,
"I really, really|don't want to eat that."
It smells like the garden, and|I don't want to go into the garden
and eat the grass off the floor.
'Girlfriend Clare is committed|to getting him eating green,
and it doesn't come much greener|than pasta with pesto.'
No, that really...|It just looks really fresh.
It smells really gross, seriously.|It smells really gross.
I genuinely don't know|what green smells like.
I don't know what it is|that he's smelling.
Just try and just take a bite of it.
Oh, my God! Well done!
Oh...
I actually hate you|a little bit now, Clare.
'Dave's lifelong diet|is starting to take its toll.
Deep-fried spuds, it seems,|are not the food of love.'
I'm 23 and I can't go|to a restaurant with my girlfriend.
We've never been out for a meal.|I mean, what would he eat?
It just wouldn't be an enjoyable|experience for him or me.
It makes me feel ashamed|that I'm not grown-up enough
to be able to eat|what everyone else eats,
and I really wish that I could.
'Dave not only has to come to terms|with giving up chips,
he's also about to face|another huge life change.'
In about a month's time|I'm going off to university,
so I'm gonna meet|loads of new people,
and I don't want to have to|explain my diet to them.
I don't want to be an outcast|straightaway.
It's just stopping me from|living my life to how I want it.
'But it's not just his social life|that's really concerning Dave.'
I don't feel like|I'm a healthy person inside.
I don't feel like...
I don't think I think|I feel like I should, you know.
My worry is that|David won't reach his 50s.
He'll have clogged his arteries up|with his appalling diet.
I will be doing|what every parent dreads,
and that's burying her child before|he reaches his full potential.
'It's day one|of a month-long dietary makeover.
Dave's in London to meet the experts
who'll help him fight|his food fears.'
Hi, Dave. I'm Felix.|Hi, guys.
Hi, Felix.|This is Charlotte.
Hello. Nice to meet you.|How are you feeling?
A little bit nervous, but I guess|that's to be expected, really.
Other than that, I'm all good.|Excellent.
Don't worry, you're|in safe hands with us.
If you wanna come this way,|we've got something to show you.
NARRATOR: 'First things first -|messages from family and friends.'
OK, Dave, the next few weeks|are gonna be tough,
so we want to show you something
that you can use|as a motivational tool.
OK.|OK? We'll leave you to watch it.
Cool.
PROJECTOR WHIRRS
Listen up, fat lad.|(LAUGHS)
What we need you to do is|sort your life out, all right,
cos this eating thing's|gonna have to change.
You are gonna end up|pegging it early.
We don't want that at all,
and we would really love it
if you could stay around|just that little bit longer.
Hi, David, it's Mum.
I'll do whatever it takes|to keep you eating healthier,
because my one fear in this life|is that you will not get to my age.
You're not gonna get there|if you carry on with this diet.
I just want you to know|that I love you
and I'm really proud of you|for doing this.
I know that you're not|finding it easy
and you're quite scared|about what's gonna happen.
It really upsets me to think about|what you might be doing to yourself.
Hopefully things will be OK.
PROJECTOR WHIRRS, SOMBRE MUSIC
So, Dave, what's it like for you|to hear those comments?
I feel, like, kind of sick|for making them all worry that much
and making them all think|that I'm not gonna reach Mum's age.
You know, I make jokes I don't want|to get old and sort of decrepit,
but I don't want to die|this early either.
Does that feel quite motivational|for you, then?
Yeah. It just makes me|not want to let them down.
Yeah.
I really don't want|to let everyone down,
cos I feel like|I've already sort of done that
with the first, like,|23 years of my life
by not eating properly and|sort of making them worry that much.
OK, so, let's go and take a look|at what you are actually eating.
OK. Let's go.|OK?
'Felix and Charlotte begin their work|with a nutritional wake-up call
that should test|even Dave's devotion to chips.'
(CHUCKLES)
So, Dave, what do you think this is?
It's a lot of chips.|Yes, it is.
Well, we've calculated that this is
the amount of chips that you eat|over an entire year,
which is a staggering|300kg of chips.
300kg. That's more than three times|your body weight.
It's mind-boggling.
It makes me feel|a little bit sick, actually,
like, just sort of looking at it|and sort of seeing it all.
It's just a bit...it's a bit sickly.
The chips aren't|the only thing you're eating.
We've also calculated|the amount of salt
that you put on those chips|in an entire year,
and it comes to this amount.
That's a lot of salt.
Look at that.|Ohhh!
Eugh.
Are you worried about this amount|of salt going in your body?
I think I'm only supposed to have,|like, a pinch of salt a day,
and that looks a hell of a lot.
That's a lot of pinching.|Yeah.
We actually also calculated
the amount of oil needed|to fry this amount of chips.
And there we are.
And that's actually|30 litres of oil.
(GASPS)
Now, when you fry that oil,|that oil becomes very damaging,
so it's damaging fats|which damage your heart.
I don't even know|where the hell that's going.
I don't want to put that and that|and everything into my body anymore.
I'm done with it, you know?
So, what is your goal|for the next four weeks?
To just be able to eat normally.|To not do that.
Not to rely on chips -|just to be able to eat normally
and eat fruits and vegetables
and actually have|a healthy, balanced diet.
The challenge in the next few weeks
is going to get Dave|to try new tastes and new textures.
He has a very limited palate of|foods at the moment.
They're quite childlike foods.
We need to get him to try|new things outside of that range
and move him away from chips.
'In four weeks, Dave will face|the ultimate challenge -
eating a proper meal with his family|for the first time in 20 years.'
It sounds like a lot to think about.
I just need time to sort of detox|from everything that's going on,
just sort of take a step back|and just really think about things.
But nervous about the next few days|and what the future holds,
and what's gonna happen, basically.
Yeah.
'Dave's clearly shocked|by what he's seen so far,
but Charlotte hasn't finished yet.
There are more home truths to come.
She's arranged for Dave's blood|to be tested by Dr Pixie McKenna,
a GP with a special interest|in eating problems.
This morning, Charlotte's|brought Dave to hear the results.'
I'm actually really worried|that the way I've been eating
and the fact that|I haven't eaten anything, like,
with any vitamins or minerals|in perhaps, like, 10, 20 years
has actually really damaged|my health sort of beyond repair.
Really nice to meet you, Dave.|Hello there.
I'm intrigued to know|how you're feeling at the moment.
Are you feeling fit?|Are you feeling well?
I wouldn't say I was fit|and energetic and whatnot.
Like, I'm an energetic person,
but I don't really feel like|I have loads of energy.
OK, one of the things|that came up in your blood results
was that you are deficient|in a vitamin called vitamin B12.
OK.
Long-term vitamin B12 deficiency can|result in problems with your balance,
with your vision,|your hair can fall out,
your skin will become|quite washed-out looking.
You'll get cracks round your mouth.
Shall I show you|what you'll look like?
♪ Da-na-na-na! ♪
That's horrible. That's ridiculous.|That's so horrible.
That is really, really horrible.
So, a vitamin is something that|we must have in our diets daily.
Without those we can't function,|and this is what can happen.
You are so deficient|in vitamin B12 that, really,
we need to boost your resources|here, now, today.
NARRATOR: 'Vitamin B12 can be found
in most meats, fish|and dairy products.
However, you don't find it|in fruit, veg or chips.
The body needs vitamin B12
to create red blood cells|and keep the nervous system happy.
After years|of a monotonous chip diet,
Dave's vitamin B12 level is so low
that Dr Pixie needs to take immediate|action and give him a boost.'
In a couple of days,|it will become apparent
and you will feel so much more|energetic, I so promise.
All right, now, this...
'Dave also has|high levels of triglycerides,
which basically means|a lot of fat in his blood.
The tube represents|Dave's bloodstream,
and Dr Pixie wants to demonstrate
how seriously the fat|could be affecting his circulation.'
So, Charlotte's on hand|with some fat.
CHARLOTTE AND DR PIXIE: Ooh!
It's clogging up.|Look at that, Dave.
Can you see that|flowing round in your circulation,
blocking the circulation?
The circulation may be|to your brain, give you a stroke,
to your heart,|give you a heart attack,
blood vessels at the back|of your eyes, make you blind,
to your kidneys,|giving you kidney failure.
It's a really serious matter.
Good evidence for|getting rid of the chips.
Good thing is you're only 23,
which means you've got massive scope|to prevent this happening.
The way you have to do that|is through diet,
and we'll go and look at some foods
that are gonna help you|prevent this, OK?
It's really easy to deny the link|between what you're putting
in your body and what is|actually happening inside,
and I'm really hoping that|that really clear illustration
is gonna make him|motivated to change.
After seeing all that,
just feeling a bit depressed|and a bit sad, actually.
It's obviously just, like, not nice
knowing that all that's going on|and I've done that, basically.
It's my fault.
Hey, darling.|CLARE: Baby!
So, how did it go?|Oh, today was horrible.
Why?
Cos they showed me this absolutely|horrible, horrible, horrible,
worst picture ever of me, basically,
what I could look like in the future|if I carried on the way I did.
You're gonna have to tell me|if it's, like, upside down.
(LAUGHS) Yes, it's upside down.
That's a horrible, horrible...|See, look at ya!
It's...|It's horrible in all of its...
Yeah, OK. Yeah,|it's pretty horrible.
You're never gonna kiss me again.
Not if you get those boils|all round your mouth. (LAUGHS)
See, look? That's all you're gonna|think about now.
I just think that you should|remember that horribleness
and just use it and focus on that
whenever you feel like|you want chips,
or if you feel like|it's really difficult.
Like, don't just ignore it.|No, I've got...
I'd rather focus on other things,
something that is|a bit more positive.
'Today is Dave's first one-on-one|session with nutritionist Charlotte.
She needs to understand the|full extent of his food problems.'
If there's anything green,|I know I'm gonna, just, like...
My brain's gonna instantly|start saying, "No, no, no."
The last thing I'd really|like to see in there is, like,
just, like, a big plate of, like,|cold cabbage or broccoli.
Hi, Charlotte. It's Dave.
DOOR BUZZES
'So, it's time for a taste-off.'
OK, Dave.
We're gonna take this step by step,
and I want to find out what|you can manage and what you can't.
So, looking at the table,|what are your first impressions?
There's some things that look gross,|lots of things that look gross.
OK.|Sprouts.
Sprouts.|Sprouts, broccoli.
No, broccoli.|Yep, OK.
Cauliflower.|Why those in particular?
Cos I remember eating them as a kid,|and they were horrible then.
You can sort of|smell the chlorophyll in it.
OK, that's an interesting thing.
Can you just grab that plant|closest to you?
Now, this is basil.
Can you smell that and|tell me what that smells like?
Smells like green.|It really smells like green.
So you've got blanket "green"?|Yeah.
It's a very pungent smell.|It really smells like green, though.
That's a really pungent|smell of green to me.
OK. Let's try the cucumber.|OK.
Do you want to just grab|a slice of that, actually?
It's savoury.|Yeah.
See, that just reeks of green.|(BOTH CHUCKLE)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
OK, is that seeds in the middle?|Like, is that clear seeds?
Like, what are they?|Oh, they're barely, vaguely...
Yeah.|I'm gonna avoid those, then.
OK.
OK, did not enjoy that one.
All I could taste was green|all the way through.
Every single crunch of that|was just pure greenness.
What I can say is that that doesn't|mean that you dislike it forever.
OK.|OK?
It takes children about, you know,
up to 17 times|to learn to like a food.
'Charlotte then steps it up a gear.'
Let's move on to the big guns.
Let's try some broccoli.|Cos there's...
It's SO good for your heart.
But no-one likes broccoli.|I love broccoli.
Do you want to grab a little bit?
Ooh, that IS a little bit.|Yeah.
(LAUGHS)|Luckily, that bit was right there.
But it just looks like|you shouldn't eat it.
It really doesn't look like someone|should go out there and go,
"Mmm, that looks delicious."
I think, actually, to say that|human beings should not eat plants
is proven to be|a bit of a redundant statement.
(CHUCKLES)
It just smells like Sunday dinners
back when I was, like,|five years old again.
(SNIFFS) It's just|a horrible, horrible smell.
OK. (BREATHES DEEPLY)
I hate...I hate you.|Already, I hate you.
(MUMBLES INDISTINCTLY)
(Let's go, let's go.)
(EXHALES)
Again, it sort of tastes|exactly how it smelt
and just, like, cold green.
I'm trying really hard|to just shut my brain off
and just sort of be a bit more|open-minded towards everything.
I think today went|really well for Dave.
It's one thing to try lots|of little amounts of things, though,
and it's a different thing to really|incorporate that into a new diet.
The thing that really|sort of stuck out for me,
it was the broccoli.
It instantly took me back|to when I was a kid
and sort of having that|sort of placed in front of me
knowing that I was|gonna have to eat it.
'Dave's back in Birmingham,|and it's day one of a new diet
with no chips.'
Good morning.
Morning.|Do you think we should open it now?
Yeah.
'Charlotte sent Dave home|with a hamper filled with food
to get him started.'
Open it.
Oh! That looks really good!
But there's a thousand|green things in there.
Aw, that's really nice.|There you go, look.
Do you reckon these are seedless?|Dunno.
I don't know.|I'm sure they're seedless.
Don't worry. If there is a seed,|you can just...
That's OK.|Dave, did you just eat that grape?
So quickly and casually?|Yeah!
(LAUGHS) Well done.
It was sweet.
'Charlotte's also sent recipes, tips,
and clear instructions|to chuck out the chips.'
Goodbye, curly fries.
'It's time to go cold turkey.'
'Dave may be off the chips for now,|but in order to keep up the progress,
psychologist Felix|needs to understand
the root of his eating problems.'
You've been eating mainly chips|for most of your life.
Yep.
And when did this start for you?
I can't remember a time|when I wasn't.
I can remember times when|I was really, really little eating
but, like, as far|as I can remember back,
I've pretty much had chips,|like, all the time.
What I usually find is, let's say|in the course of normal development,
we develop an eating pattern,
so at some point this normal|progress just got derailed somehow.
Yeah.
And I'm really curious|about what happened at that point
that just switched you|to this new track.
I remember my dad used to cut me,|like, Sunday lunches,
and I remember, like, growing up,|really not enjoying Sunday lunches.
Like, I didn't enjoy the meat,|I didn't enjoy any of the vegetables.
He was always one of these people|that just said, like,
"If you don't have it now,|you'll have it for your tea,
and if you don't have it|for your tea,
you'll have it for your breakfast."
And I remember always|hating Sunday dinners,
because I would always be|the one left on the table
with a plate full of meat and carrots|and vegetables and stuff
that I really didn't want to eat.
Our brain learns by association.
If your brain is associating
feelings of being powerless,|or being helpless,
of being sort of coerced or bullied|with certain foods,
you're gonna build up|a reaction to that,
a sort of aversion to that.
So, what are the good things,|the positive things about chips
that you'd like to carry over|into your other eating habits?
One of the things that I really loved|when I was growing up
was my mum used to make|home-cooked chips,
and I used to love them.
They were, like, amazing,
a special treat, like, birthdays,|Christmas, sort of thing.
I just sort of want|to continue that sort of feeling
where I'm actually happy|to eat a food that I'm excited about.
At the moment, sounds like|it's a little bit black or white.
Vegetables and meat|are associated with
your dad trying to coerce you|or bully you into eating it,
and these lovely,|home-made cooked chips
you associate with|being welcoming and love.
So, I mean, the strange thing|is, David,
this is not really about the food.
This is about the emotions|associated to the food.
If your dad sat you there saying,
"You're gonna eat your chips|until they're all finished..."
It would have been|the other way round.
Exactly.
So, it's really about|breaking that connection.
Yeah.|Well done.
'It's the start of week two,|and Dave's still off the fries,
but he's struggling with new foods.
This morning's homework challenge|from Charlotte?
To eat a mango.'
I have never...
I think I've seen this,|but I've never actually eaten one.
Or, I don't think I've seen|anyone eating one themselves.
Yeah, I can feel|something hard in the middle.
OK. Eugh, that looks like|a giant...stony thing.
OK. (SNIFFS)
(EXHALES)
OK.
Yeah, my brain's thinking about it|too much now, and I feel sick.
I feel a bit sick.
It's just|the textures and stuff now...
..are sort of ruining it for me.
Like, for now,|I'm just done with the mango.
'Over the coming days,|Dave's progress is very slow
and not exactly steady.'
This morning for breakfast, I had|a bunch of grapes and an apple,
so that's, like,|two of my five a day, and then...
..I had some crisps and I had|a doughnut, cos I was really hungry.
'Desperate times call for|desperate measures.
Dave's ready to cook and hopefully|eat an omelette for the first time.'
CLARE: How are you feeling|about eating the omelette?
Excited?|I don't really know.
Just a bit hungry, really.|(CHUCKLES)
You seem a bit fed up.|I am fed up.
I'm not eating what I want to eat.
I'm eating things|that I don't want to eat yet.
I just really, really, really|want some chips.
That's all I really want to do,|is just eat a portion of chips,
and then I sort of think|I can get through another week
if I'm not having them.
I know you want to eat the chips,
but I think, at the same time,|you don't want to eat them.
I don't want to eat the chips cos|of all the bad (BLEEP) that happens,
and all that stuff,
and yeah, yeah, yeah,|all that, yeah, it's bad for me.
But I still like them.
I still would like to have a meal|that I'm actually going to enjoy...
I know.
..rather than just a meal that|I'm just cooking to keep trying it.
I understand why I can't|eat the chips and whatnot,
so...I'm trying to focus on that,
but when I just|get down about myself,
it's a really horrible thing|to feel about myself constantly,
cos all I want to do is just|do something that I actually enjoy.
'With Dave on a real low,|Felix invites him to London.
He wants to tackle what he sees as
the root of the problem -|family mealtimes.'
OK, so, Dave, what do you think|this represents?
A table and chairs? Dinnertime.
Oh, no, a child's dinnertime.
That's right. This is you.
'Armed with cardboard cut-outs|of Dave's family,
Felix hopes that Dave can overcome
the negative memories|associated with family meals.'
He wouldn't eat it, end of story,|full stop,
and that's why the old,|"You'll sit there till," you know...
"If you don't eat it now,
you'll have it for breakfast|in the morning."
Go for it. (CHUCKLES)
You'd end up thinking,|"The poor kid's gonna go hungry.
What WILL you eat, then, David?"
And Dave said, "Well, you can do me|chips, and I will eat chips."
Here you are.
Everyone else is eating all the food.
Your brothers are making|some snide remarks.
Your parents -|there's a slight tension.
Your mum says, "Just leave him."
Your dad's saying, "Well, you know,|should he get away with it?"
And, you know, "I had to eat|what was put in front of me."
What are you feeling right here|as your three-year-old self?
Just feeling like I'm being|singled out, and I don't...
I just want to do everything|that everyone else is doing.
What's it like for you|to feel singled out?
What emotions are attached to that?
Just unhappiness.|Like, most mealtimes wasn't fun.
It wasn't a good time for me.
So, I'd like you here as young Dave,|now, to go into your father's shoes.
I'm gonna ask you questions as Dad.
You've heard from your son|that he's feeling upset here.
He doesn't enjoy this.
So, where are you coming from|with this kind of pressure?
Why is he being difficult? That's...
Like, I just want him to eat|what everyone else is eating.
I just want him to be normal,|basically.
I just want him to carry on|doing what everyone else is doing.
Like, he just seems to be|being really difficult about it.
Now, some parents may say,|"I don't care - eat what you like."
They're kind of indifferent.
Indifference means that|they don't care.
So, strangely enough,|even though your father was angry,
his anger was partly taking it|personally, but also cos he cared.
He wanted you to eat something right,|something good for you.
Yeah.
The problem here|is that he didn't know
exactly how to express that care.
Yeah.
So, what I would like to do now,
I'd like you to advise your dad|on how Dave needs to be treated.
Dad, what I really needed|when I was a kid
was for you to sort of back off,
for you to be a lot more supportive.
Excellent stuff.
Now, be Dad.
You've got the benefit of this|new insight of what's really needed.
How would you respond now|to your young son instead?
Hey, Dave, I was only doing|what I was doing because I love you
and because of how I was brought up,
but I realise|that we're not the same.
What I wish I'd done was more caring
and more actually listening|to what the problem was
rather than just thinking|you're being awkward.
How do you feel towards your dad now,|having experienced this?
A lot better.|I think we would have been...
I think we should be a lot closer|than we are.
I think it caused a lot of tension|that we didn't actually need,
cos I know he was doing it|for the best intentions.
Excellent.
It sort of made me realise that
we sort of lost a lot of|good childhood memories,
and I don't speak to my dad|that much now.
It just made me really want|to speak to him
and actually just go out|and do stuff with him.
I sort of want to make
happier memories with my family|regarding food
than just these sort of unhappy ones
that I always usually|associate with,
so I sort of want to get|some happiness back from my family.
'Clare has joined Dave in London,|and it's dinnertime.
They're in the food Mecca of|the East End to grab a bite to eat.
What could be simpler?'
Ooh, look. There's English here.
Seafood. I'm not really|a fan of seafood, am I?
Omelette. Oh, it comes with chips.
See? Everything comes with chips!
You know what I really want to try,|is corn on the cob. No?
You're not coming with me|on this one?
How would you feel about a toastie?
I think then we're going into|the areas of stringiness.
And I'm actually really hungry.
You're hungry now?|I'm starving!
'Two hours later,|and the hungry couple
settle for coffee and cake for one.'
Try a sip of juice?
You should try the cake.|It's so nice.
Not everything has to be tried|to force down my throat, you know.
I'm not forcing it down your throat!|You know what I mean.
I'm offering it to you.
REFLECTIVE MUSIC
'The lack of chips and anything else|he likes eating is getting to Dave.
Behind closed doors,|he's really struggling.'
I just lost it and I basically just|broke down in a heap on the floor.
Why can't I eat the chips?|I know I can't eat the chips.
It's stupid, but I want them,|but I don't want them.
And I just...I was so angry.
He started to cry,|which was...really, like,
really upsetting to watch,
and really shocking because|I've been with him for, you know,
over a year and a half now
and never, ever seen him crying|that whole time.
It's just everything was just|getting on top of me, and I just...
(SIGHS)
I just want to be happy.|That's all I want.
'Dave's hit rock bottom,|but Felix is on hand to help.'
PHONE RINGS
Well, Dave, I mean, you're|going through a very hard time,
and I think you've got a lot of|cumulative stress building up there,
so, you know, you've gotta|give yourself a break as well.
So, what that means is you CAN eat|chips from time to time, you know.
People do that.
We just don't want to make it|your one and only staple.
Just to check, Dave, were there|any other emotions you're aware of
that played into this?
The trying the new foods has been
sort of a strain, like,|as it would be.
Then there's been the whole|moving to uni thing, like,
then sort of knowing that|it's sort of like
even though me and Clare|aren't breaking up,
we're sort of like...we're living|apart as soon as I go to uni.
It is a time of lots of fast changes|happening, and change is stressful,
so the fact that you've had|a little bit of an experience
of feeling overwhelmed, hey,
give yourself permission|to be overwhelmed,
you know, from time to time.
Cool. Thank you very much, dude.
All right, Dave. Take care, OK?|See you later. 'Bye.
(SIGHS)
'So Dave takes Felix at his word|and heads for the chippy.'
Hello there.
Can I get a ã1.30 chips|and a sausage,
and then a small chips|as well, please?
I won't have any of them.
There you go.|Thank you.
Thank you.
Don't be sad.
'It's back to the house|with his stash,
the first chips he's eaten|in over two weeks.'
Mmm! (LAUGHS)
Well, are they as good|as you remembered?
Oh, better, cos I haven't had them|for a while.
(Oh, they are really nice.)|(CHUCKLES)
I hope this doesn't make it|more difficult for you, Dave.
See, I think|you're not enjoying them
as much as you thought|you were going to.
I'm not enjoying them|as much as I used to.
That's good.
Before I had them, I was sort of|really looking forward to them
and sort of, like, there was|sort of like that bit of excitement.
Like, "Oh, I haven't had chips|for a while,
so what are they gonna taste like?
Hope they're gonna be|as good as before."
And then after eating them,
no, they weren't|as enjoyable as they were before.
I think within|trying all these new foods,
you sort of...I've felt a lot better|after eating a meal,
and I know that the reason I'm|feeling a bit gluggy and a bit heavy
is because of the chips.
'There's now just one week to go
before Dave must eat his first|proper dinner with his family
in nearly 20 years.
Dave is still struggling to|adapt to his chip-free challenge,
so Felix has to hope|an exciting new experience
will help him take the plunge.'
Dave, have you ever been on|one of these things before?
No, never. I'm really excited.
It looks cool as hell, yeah.
It's not the kind of thing|you usually do, is it?
No, no.
Travelling on the bus is pretty much|the peak of my excitement.
So, you up for it?|Definitely, definitely up for it.
Hey, it's Action Dave.|It is.
How do you feel?|You ready for this challenge?
Yep, very ready. I'm excited.
You've got just one mission to do...|OK.
..just to enjoy yourself.|Cool.
You can do that?|Pretty sure I should be able to.
JAUNTY MUSIC
At the moment he's doing about 4mph,
which is a bit less than|walking speed, I think.
Dave, go a bit faster!
ENGINE ROARS, UPBEAT MUSIC
That's the one.
What I'm really hoping|for Dave to get out of this
is he starts of apprehensive,|tentative about something,
and then he realises|he can really have fun with it.
There's a monotony about things,|so I think it's really important
that he IS more adventurous|across the board.
How was that, then?
You did full throttle, didn't you?|Yes.
Yeah, I thought you did. Brilliant.|(CHUCKLES)
I was a bit nervous about it,
but then I was, like,|"No, just go for it."
Literally, most of that was full|throttle, I was enjoying it so much.
It was great.
In life, you take|a little bit more risks,
you can actually|enjoy life a lot more,
and now the trick is|to do that with your food.
Like, I totally understand what|Felix was saying about, you know,
why not apply that to food?
Why can you not just think,
"Screw it, I'm gonna|throw caution to the wind.
If I love it, great. If I don't,|I don't. That's fine."
I think I just need to be|more adventurous now. It's great.
Good, Dave.|Good.
'With Dave now feeling more positive|and making progress,
Charlotte decides it's time to|move his eating to the next level.'
Hello again.|How's it going?
What Dave really needs to learn now
is to start to understand|how you mix flavours,
how you can mix new foods together,
and how he's gonna|really start enjoying that.
(SPEAKS JAPANESE)
Oh, yes! Whoa!
(BOTH CHEER)
'Charlotte hopes Teppanyaki,|a Japanese way of cooking
that quickly and easily|mixes flavours together,
is something|that might appeal to Dave,
especially with|his student days ahead.'
Thank you.
Thank you.|Enjoy your meal.
Thank you very much.|Thank you.
How was that for you?
That was thrilling. That was|really good. I enjoyed that.
What did you take in terms of
watching the chicken being cooked,|for instance?
It was...it looked delicious|when it was just being fried
and it was just being nice,
and it was being juggled about|and just slowly being cooked.
And also, you can see how simple|it is to get flavours in there.
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
And also, he used|an enormous amount of garlic,
which is the most simple flavour|you can possibly get,
and every culture has garlic in it,|pretty much.
OK.|Shall we go?
We'll go for a bit of chicken, yeah.
It's really nice.|Mm-hm!
That's a world away from just trying|something on its own, isn't it?
And, yeah, it was|really, really good.
I really enjoyed it.
Like, you asked me that|two weeks ago,
said I'd be eating there,|like, it wouldn't have happened,
so it was, like,|a really nice thing to try.
'Dave may be doing well,|but Felix believes that
to truly put his chip-eating days|behind him,
he needs to clear the air|with his father
about the miserable mealtimes|of the past.
Trouble is, they haven't seen|each other for over two years.'
I haven't seen my dad for a while.
We speak sometimes,|but not very often.
After some of the stuff|that Felix said,
I thought that we sort of
really need to talk to each other|to sort a few things out.
Hello, Papa.|Hi, sunshine.
Looking well.|Thanks.
What's with your glasses?|I'm blind because of you.
Blaming me for that one, are you?
Shall we sit down?|Eh? How are you?
I'm OK. I'm OK.
You're looking good, mate.|Different.
It's because of|your crappy eyesight.
I can't imagine you with glasses on.|I've had to.
How long you had them, then?|A few weeks.
Like, I know when I was a kid,|I really didn't like green stuff,
like the broccoli|and the sprouts and stuff.
At the end of the day,|I thought I was right
and you were just playing up...
Yeah.
..when it was started off,|I suppose, you know what I mean?
So it was just one of them things.
But, like I say, you can see your|point of view and my point of view,
but at the time you|don't think of these things.
No.
You don't think about the situation,|might be years later.
You're just doing|what you think's right.
Well, that's it. At the end|of the day, it's, you know...
At the end of the day,|you used to eat food, normal,
so why suddenly change?
Somewhere along the line,|something happened.
Oh, I don't know.|And that's it.
It was many, many years ago, Dad.|I haven't got a memory that good.
Yeah.
It'll be nice to say|you can eat normal stuff.
Before Friday,|I hadn't eaten chips for two weeks.
New start, is it?
No, no, I was trying|fruits and vegetables.
It's good to, you know, know that|you are trying these other things.
So, if I made you up|one of my special fish pies...
I've never tried a pie.|(STAMMERS)
It's, like, smoked haddock,|normal haddock,
cheese sauce, mashed potato.
It's just all full of good stuff,|you know what I mean, tasty.
Maybe, yeah.
I'm surprised as to, you know,|what's going on,
and what you're saying to me now|is just unbelievable.
Yeah.
OK. I'm gonna go, Dad.
Yeah, you take care.|Lovely to see you.
I'm so glad that|everything's working out for you.
Yeah, it's good.
And you're gonna come up,|and we're gonna cook for each other,
and you're gonna teach me|how to cook some beef.
It was really nice|seeing my dad, actually.
It was weird|cos I haven't seen him much.
He looks a bit older than|the last time I saw him.
It was just nice to see him, and|hopefully he'll come up to Lincoln,
and he can sort of teach me|how to cook some stuff.
'The day has arrived|for Dave and Clare
to move out of their Birmingham home.
Clare's going to Sheffield|with her dad,
while Dave's off to|Lincoln University with his mum.'
Last ones.|Give it a try.
(CHUCKLES)
Yay! Look at that.
I love you.|I love you more.
(CRIES) I'm sorry.
Just gonna miss you, is all.
I'll miss you more.
Good luck.|See you, Dave.
See you later.
(SIGHS)
HORN TOOTS
I am a little bit sad|to leave the house, you know.
It's the house where me and Clare|first moved in together,
so it's got loads of memories|for us, but, you know,
also looking forward|to moving into the new flat
and seeing what that's all like and|making new friends and stuff, so...
(STARTS ENGINE)
'It's the first day of uni and|the moment Dave has been dreading.
He's not sure what|the other students will be like
or what they will make|of his eating habits.'
Which course are you|going to be doing?
Computer games production.
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)|Hopefully. What about you?
You doing that one? Yay! I'm Dave!
I'm Jose.|Jose, how's it going, man?
I don't know - if you want,|we'll meet you over there
and go grab a drink or something.
Yeah.
'Dave befriends two lads|from his computer course,
but it's not long before the dreaded|topic of eating is on the menu.'
What are you looking at?|Ultimate Tower Burger.
See, I don't know what to have|cos I'm not eating chips,
so everything comes with chips.
Well, you could always go for|a jacket potato.
I've never eaten a jacket potato|in my life.
That's pretty good.
You reckon?
I'm iffy about the cheese.
No, I'm gonna go cheese and bacon.|(BLEEP), I'll go for it.
'Dave has never tried|a jacket potato,
but he decides to take the risk.
After all, that's just like|a big chip, right?'
I've got a jacket potato|with bacon and cheese.
Many thankyous.|There we go.
Thank you.|That's me.
How do you eat a jacket potato?
You can either eat the skin|or leave the skin.
I think I'm gonna leave the skin.
It looks like|there's a lot of cheese.
This is what I was afraid of,
that it was just gonna|get overpowered with cheese.
Go on. Just eat it.
It's not gonna kill you, is it?
It could do.|What if it's slightly poison?
No, it's not gonna kill me.|(CHUCKLES)
Mmm.
It's kind of like mashed potato,|but without it being mashed.
Mmm.
And I really think it could...|it would benefit from some vinegar.
(CHUCKLES)
That was OK, that was.|(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
I didn't enjoy the salad after it,
but I think the bacon|could have used some work.
But as a whole, I can now eat|jacket potatoes. There you go.
It's been fun so far.
It's been nice meeting some new|people, and they just seem to be,
like, "Oh, OK, you haven't tried|it," which is always nice, you know.
It's nice not to be ridiculed|for something that I haven't done
and more supported for it,|so they just seemed like nice guys.
Think we're gonna get along.|It's gonna be good.
'Dave settles in quickly|to his new life at university,
and he even buys himself a wok and|starts experimenting in the kitchen.
But there isn't a veg in sight.
With just two days|before the final challenge,
Charlotte decides to spring|a surprise visit on Dave.'
Hello.|Hello, darling.
Wasn't expecting you up here.
Have you been cooking?|I have been cooking.
What have you been cooking?
I've mainly been having those|egg noodles. They're delicious.
And what about the greenery?
There's only been|little bits of greenery.
That's your kind of blind spot,|is the greenery.
Yeah, the greenery.
'Charlotte has one last chance|to get Dave over his green phobia
before the final challenge.'
Can we take one of those?|Thank you.
Thank you very much.
'And she's risking it all|with a salad.'
Four salads for ã6. A bargain!
Cheers!|Thank you.
'Bye.
So, I've prepared this salad.|There's a lot of greenery there.
(LAUGHS)
So, you can see a lot of leaves,|but a lot of colour too.
So, again, it's that mixing|of flavours that we did,
so it tempers that taste|that you're not necessarily used to.
We're going to|put together something
that's going to bring this salad|alive, some dressing.
What we're gonna start with|is a really simple one,
so, olive oil, some lemon juice.
Also gonna add|a little bit of honey in there.
OK.
'Her plan is to disguise the taste of|the vegetables with some dressings.'
And there you go.|So, how does that look to you?
What's your brain telling you|about that at the moment?
It just looks...
Now it just looks like|wet leafiness,
and I can just get the smell|of green and beetroot.
Let's go for it.
(EXHALES)
OK, OK.
Yep.
That was some chewy green.
And?|Tastes like green.
So, how was the dressing?|Did that make a difference?
I couldn't taste any dressing.
'Charlotte's determined|to try whatever it takes
to get Dave to actually|enjoy the salad.'
I really don't enjoy the texture|of those avocados.
(SPITS)
What was that?|Bits.
I'm not really sure if|the salads and dressings experiment
worked with Dave.
He's quite reticent towards the|whole "green thing", as he calls it,
but he really, really was trying,|really putting big mouthfuls in,
so there's a lot|of positive stuff there.
I just don't know how much|he's gonna try on his own
when he's left to his own devices.
'It's just 24 hours before Dave must|eat a roast dinner with his family.
Clare has come to visit him|for moral support,
but the conversation|quickly turns sour.'
So, have you been|eating any vegetables
since you've at uni, Davey?
Um, only those beans and, you know,|the beany sprout things.
Bean sprouts?|Yeah.
And that is it?
I haven't really been cooking|that much.
And it's just, like...no.|Why?
I don't know. It's not...
Like, once I get into a routine...
It's just because|it's the first week.
Everyone's going out,|everyone's meeting each other.
Everyone's, like, bonding together.|Yeah.
So it's sort of been...|I'm worried about you.
I don't want you|to go back to...just eating
the stuff you can whack in the oven
just because you don't|have to think about it.
I'm not gonna just go back to that.
I should hope|that you know that I won't.
OK.
It's nice to know|that you have faith in me.
Dave!
I've done nothing but have faith|in you the whole time, OK?
Nothing but support you, you know,|trying to help you, listen to you.
I've done nothing but good stuff,|and you sit there and say that!
'Four weeks and|just one bag of chips later,
it's time for|Dave's final challenge -
to eat an entire roast dinner|while his family look on,
something he hasn't done|since he was four years old.'
I think the thing that|I'm least looking forward to
is the green stuff, the broccoli,|or just the meat.
I think the meat could be a problem,
cos I usually have a problem|just chewing the meat.
'And the whole family will be there|for the first time in over 10 years,
including his dad.'
Well, I can't remember how long it's|been since I seen him eat properly,
so if...I think if he does|get through it today,
I think it'll be amazing.
He's gonna give it his best shot.
I think he's gonna do really well,|and just the fact that he's here
and he can even contemplate|doing it is amazing.
I don't actually think|he's gonna do it today, that's all.
'And Felix and Charlotte|are there for moral support.'
All right, Dave?|Hello!
How's it going, darling?|Hello, darling.
Hello.|Nice to see you again. You OK?
I'm good, man.|How are you feeling about today?
I'm OK. Bit nervous.|A bit nervous, but I'm OK.
We haven't eaten together like this|for, like, 10, 10 years or so.
It'll be unusual.|Yeah, it'll be unusual.
It'll be unusual for me to eat|the same things as them as well.
So, you're gonna|tackle the vegetables?
I'm gonna have to|tackle the vegetables, yes.
(LAUGHS)|(FELIX SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
Go and meet your family, then.|Good luck, Dave.
The only thing that might|hinder his progress today
is that he's not been trying that|greenery at home on his own,
so he's got|quite a large leap to make.
'Dave dreaded family roast dinners|as a boy.
Will he be able to stomach this one?'
Oh, go on, lad.
You've had more veg than me, son.|Are we gonna tuck in, then?
Well, Davey, cheers, son.
ALL: Cheers.
Doing well.
LOW-LEVEL CONVERSATION
I'm very impressed,|cos all his veggies are gone.
Mm-hm.|Well done.
'Even though Dave has managed|to tackle the vegetables,
he still has a plate full of meat|and potatoes to get through
to finish the challenge.'
'While all the others have finished,|Dave is still munching.'
Well, it's getting down there, son.
Mmm.|I'm proud.
I am proud.
Yeah, I'm done.
I didn't think I'd see the day.
(ALL TALK AT ONCE)
How do you feel, son?|Full.
Proud?
Hello.|Hello, hello, hello.
That looks like a very empty plate!
Yeah.|And there were vegetables to start?
There were vegetables to start with.
Your favourite, broccoli,|was on there.
Yeah. Did you enjoy the broccoli?
It was OK.|Hey, that's a start.
We're getting there.|That's a step upwards.
Can I get some reactions|from people round the table?
As a family, I think this has been|a bit of a milestone,
cos I can't remember the time|when we've sat down all together
and eaten a meal where David's|had the same as everybody else.
So it's been absolutely|mind-blowing.
I'm just so proud of you. Oh, no.
Oh, no!
Really, really so proud of you.|(CHUCKLES)
Yeah, I'm just so surprised|he has tried it all.
He's done better than you have, Rob.|He has done better than me!
I'm a bit fussier than him.|(ALL LAUGH)
Brilliant.|Well done, son.
Well done.|Brilliant, mate.
(ALL TALK AT ONCE)
When I first started|and I said, like,
I didn't want to feel|like a kid anymore,
I just wanted to be an adult,
and that was definitely a step|towards feeling like an adult,
being able to eat with everyone else,
just having a nice meal|with them all.
I think he has banished those old|demons and written a new chapter,
which is exactly my hope for him,|and job well done.
I just...I'm really ecstatic|that he enjoyed it so much.
I mean, he ate all the vegetables|and he enjoyed it.
I think he's gonna be|really positive.
I think he's gonna take that to uni,
and I think he's starting|a whole new life.
We can do so many things now|that we could never do before.
It's like a whole new world.
It's...this has changed his life.
Well done, son.
I'm so proud of you. You did great.
He's really chuffed.|I'm proud of my son.
I'm just gonna carry on|expanding what I'm eating.
There will still be chips|in the diet,
but everyone has some chips|in their diet.
It just won't ever be to the extent
where it's every single day,|twice a day.
Not even, like, every single week.
It's just gonna be every once in a|while like everyone else has them.
So I'm happy about that.
'One month later, and Dave's dietary|revolution is still going strong.'
I can actually honestly say|I don't miss chips at all.
It's now no longer a thing|of, like, "Ooh, I'm hungry.
I wonder where|the nearest chip shop is?"
It's, like, "Oh, I'm hungry.
I wonder if this place|does nice sandwiches?"
Or, "This place has got|some nice food on the board."
I'm no longer having to just look|at the kids' menu to order food,
and I'm basically|just a normal person,
and that's what I've always wanted,
just to be able to not feel like|I'm singled out
because of what I'm eating.
I don't have something|ruling my life like chips did.
Now, it's more like I'll try little|bits of sort of greenery food
and salad and stuff.
I'm still not its biggest fan|by a long shot,
but at least|now I'm still trying it,
and I may come to|eventually love salad, maybe.
Closed Captions by CSI -|Debbie Coughlin