NARRATOR: '19-year-old Aaron Saunders
might seem like|your average teenager.'
Whoo!
'But behind closed doors
he struggles with a dark|and debilitating problem.
Aaron is addicted|to Yorkshire puddings.
He chomps his way|through a dozen a day.
Since the age of five,
he hasn't been able to stomach|much else.'
The fact that I don't eat much more|than a toddler does,
it kind of makes me feel|quite embarrassed.
'But at least he's now|eating something.'
Aaron was on powdered milk from|birth until he was about five.
'Where this freaky eating comes from|is anyone's guess,
but Aaron's mum has her theory.'
I think it's an alien|from outer space.
I think someone came down|in the hospital
and whipped him away.
Never met anybody else like it.
'Weighing in at just 8.5 stone,
not surprisingly, this pudding diet|is starting to take its toll.'
Aaron is not getting enough vitamins|and things.
He gets very tired.
'And with his weight continuing|to drop,
it could soon become a matter|of life or puddings for Aaron.'
I think my problem is serious.
The last time I checked,|I'm two stone under weight.
I think if it did continue|any longer
I would eventually|be put in hospital.
'Helping him to beat|his food freakiness
will be the job of our experts.
Nutritionist Charlotte Watts
will attempt to move|his kiddie palate
onto grown-up foods.'
Ooh, no, instantaneous.
'Psychologist Felix Economakis
will have his work cut out|tackling Aaron's food fears.'
I think you just don't want to|go somewhere
because you associate it with|something really negative.
'And his lack of commitment|to changing.'
If you don't cooperate,|I can't do anything.
'But with just four weeks
to work on their youngest|and most extreme case yet,
can Aaron grow up nutritionally|and kick the puddings for good?'
I guess I'm gradually losing|confidence.
It's easier said than done.
No.
'19-year-old Aaron Saunders
lives with his mum and dad|in Norwich.
After dropping out of school|with no qualifications,
he recently started his first job|as a receptionist
at a local maintenance firm.
Aaron grew up as an only child.
And whilst he may be taking|his first steps into adulthood,
when it comes to his eating habits|he's got a lot of growing up to do.
Aaron survives on Yorkshire puddings.
But eating over a dozen a day isn't|something he actually likes.'
The reason I eat Yorkshire puddings
is because I can tolerate them.
I don't really enjoy them,|but it's something I can eat
and that my mouth accepts.
'He may be 19,
but Aaron's diet has hardly|progressed since he was a toddler,
when his parents first noticed|his freaky eating.'
I was on the baby formula|till I was about five or six.
He would not eat baby food.
He'd put it in his mouth|and then spit it out at you.
We had expert advice,
and they just said, "As long as|he's healthy, he's fine,
he's sleeping well,|let him have just that."
I'll go and eat these.
'His family may be used to it,
but Holly, Aaron's girlfriend|of two years,
finds it hard to handle.'
Aaron's eating habits|really do frustrate me
and make me feel awkward.
One day I saw him eating like 12|Yorkshire puddings on a plate,
and you just think, "Whoa!|That's really weird."
Enjoying that?
'Aaron doesn't get all his nutrients|from his beloved Yorkshire puddings.
There are a few other foods|he will eat.'
Chips, crisps.
Chocolate.
'And one of them|also batter based.'
And pancakes.
'As well as being freaky|about what he'll eat,
Aaron's also developed|a complicated set of rules
about where he'll eat too.'
I can't really eat my main meals,
like Yorkshire puddings|and pancakes,
anywhere other than my own house,
cos they'll taste different,|I think.
It's something about having his own|utensils, I think,
and his own sort of...
He's in much more control|if he's got all of his own stuff.
'But even at home there are rules.
Mum and Dad eat at the table
while Aaron insists on munching|his 12 Yorkshire puds
in solitude upstairs.'
I'll eat them whilst I'm playing|a computer game
or watching a television show.
And then it takes my mind off|the fact I'm eating food
and it makes it easier to eat|the same stuff over and over
if I'm ignoring it, basically.
'Ironically, all Aaron|wants is a simple life.'
If there's lots of different foods|in front of me,
it would be quite daunting|in a way.
All the different tastes and that|would get quite confusing
and I'll just gag.
And that's not good.
Possibly a sprout. I'm not sure.
Looks like a tree.
'Aaron's loved ones
are worried about what his diet|is doing to his health.'
I'm frightened that he's...|he's gonna die in the end,
because he's just not having all|the vitamins.
I do notice things about Aaron,|like his tiredness.
I'll turn to the caffeine pills
just to give me that extra boost|in the morning
so I can actually do anything.
He's really pale.
Ever since I've first known him|he has lost a lot of weight.
I'm just eating to live,|and it's such a problem.
I'm so bored of it by now|and it needs to change.
'Today Aaron has a date|with dietary destiny.
Psychologist Felix|and nutritionist Charlotte
have just four weeks to bring Aaron's|bizarre eating habits
back down to earth.'
Hi, Aaron.|Hello!
Hello.|I'm Felix, this is Charlotte.
Hello, nice to meet you.
'Before they can begin their work,
Charlotte and Felix want Aaron to|hear a few home truths
he may never have heard before.'
And what I'd like you to do, Aaron,
is really listen to|the comments here,
take it on board,
and then we'll catch up with you|after you've seen it.
OK then.|All right, see you soon.
Aaron, it's Mum here.
We've tried so hard|when you were younger,
trying to give you things.
It really does worry me about what|the future's gonna hold for us
and for you yourself.
Hi Aaron, it's Dad here.
I'd really, really love to see|you eat if not a proper meal
just a few different things
so that I know that you would be|happier in yourself.
Just imagine if we could go out|and have a meal together.
You won't be sitting there|with an empty plate,
people won't be looking at you
like you've got something wrong|with you.
Sometimes I feel I've failed,|that we've not...
If only we could put the clock back,
it would be a lot, lot better.
I'm really scared|that your eating issues
are gonna affect you|when you're older,
and cause problems.
And you could have heart failure,
and then I'd be left by myself|just thinking,
"Why wasn't something done about it|when you were young enough?"
Um, so please, if we could just get|through this together,
that would be really great.
I love you lots, and I'll support|you all the way through.
What was that like for you|to hear those comments?
Um, it was quite difficult.
I mean, we don't really talk about|stuff like that face-to-face.
So it's good to hear that they're|behind me all the way.
Because when they usually talk to me
it sounds like|they're just nagging me.
I feel like I just want to get out|of there and not talk to them.
Was there anyone in there|who particularly moved you?
Um, yeah, Holly at the end,
where she said that,|if she was by herself, you know.
It really means I've got to change.
It's good that you've had that|kind of response.
We really need you to give it|your all. Yeah.
Are you ready to start, then?|Yep.
OK, let's go.
'Felix and Charlotte have organised
a nutritional wake-up call for Aaron
that may be hard to swallow.'
So what do you make|of all of this, Aaron?
Uh, that's quite crazy, actually.
Ah, good,|I'm glad you had that reaction.
Yeah!
This is not just a representation|of the kind of things you eat,
this is actually the only thing|you eat.
Aaron, I don't know|what scares me more.
How little you eat,|or what you actually eat.
Your staple diet for the year
is this 1,872 Yorkshire puddings.|That's a lot. (LAUGHS)
Yeah, it's kind of,|it's a lot of Yorkshire puddings.
But it's not really a lot of food.|No.
It reminds me how boring it is|just to eat it every day.
Yes, absolutely.|It looks amazingly bland.
And it also looks bland|nutritionally.
'And it's not just the 1,872 puddings|that's a worry.'
If we come over here, I think this|really helps to illustrate,
because this slop is what the|Yorkshire puddings are made from.
Looks like somebody just emptied|the rest of their plate|into a bin or something.
From my point of view,|your saving grace here
is that there's eggs|and milk in here.
At least you're getting some|B-vitamins.
'On top of this paddling pool|of pancake mix,
Aaron also chomps his way through|730 bags of crisps a year.'
This is the start|of quite a few disease processes.
So this is why it's so crucial|for us to stop this now.
Yeah.
'And then of course there is|the chocolate.'
At least it's not yellow.
Saving grace.
But this is 416 bars of chocolate.
When you look at this diet|in its entirety,
what's your feeling when you see|other people's diets,
and just making a comparison?
It's actually quite disturbing,|cos there's so little here.
Right now you're suffering|double whammy.
You eat too little|and you eat the wrong kind of stuff.
It's almost as if you're|at a stage where
you're not feeling that your body|can handle full adult food,
and we need to get you into a mode
where you're moving onto|an adult diet.
And looking at it,
it just makes me feel a bit sick.
So it is quite disturbing to see it|all just right in front of me.
So bearing this in mind,
what is it you want to achieve|at the end of the four weeks?
I think I'd like a more varied diet,|and not be so bored of food, really.
Brilliant, OK.
I'm really worried about Aaron.
He's certainly the most severe case|we've come across.
And I feel his actual life|is on the line.
I really need him to be|that shocked,
cos he's got an enormous amount of|changing to do,
just staggeringly huge mountain|to climb.
From my point of view to what to do,
we've got to start from|the beginning.
'Aaron has a mammoth task ahead,
but helping him to batter his freaky|eating into submission
won't be easy for girlfriend Holly|either.'
I do love Aaron, but sometimes it is|really, really hard
to sort of think to yourself,
you know, "Can I carry on with this?
Am I gonna put up with this|anymore?"
When I'm with him I just learn|to blank it out.
I just completely ignore it as much|as I can,
because otherwise|I think I'd just go crazy.
I wouldn't have been able|to stay with him
if I didn't learn to blank it out.
It's quite complicated.
It's not just gonna be me, you know,|training myself to eat new foods.
It's gonna be a lot more than just,|you know,
four weeks and then I'm fine,|I'm like everyone else.
'Aaron's diet isn't just dull,|it's dangerous.
Charlotte wants to find out what|damage he may be doing to his health.
Dr Pixie McKenna is GP who|specialises in eating disorders.
Charlotte's brought Aaron|to her clinic.'
I've spent the last few weeks just|going through your medical history
and having a look at|those blood tests
which you kindly had done for us.
And there's quite a lot to worry|about you.
The big thing that strikes me,|thinking about your symptoms
and how you feel -
cos you're feeling quite tired,|aren't you?
Kind of exhausted, yeah.
I think your blood sugar levels,|as shown in your blood tests,
are actually dropping|during the day.
Typically you will feel very tired,
because glucose is your,|it's basically your fuel.
We really crucially need you to get|onto food sources
that sustain energy.|Yeah.
And one of the most important things|for that is to have breakfast.
'When blood sugar levels fall|below normal,
it's known as hypoglycemia,
which in plain English means|"undersweet blood".
The brain is one of|the first organs affected
from the lack of glucose it needs|for fuel,
leaving you feeling weak, tired,|irritable and trembly.
Eating foods that release|sugar slowly,
such as oats, berries and bananas,
is the best way to provide|a constant level of energy
to your body and your brain.'
Do you want to pop up on|the weighing scales for me?
54.5kg.
How tall are you?|About 5'9".
OK. Are you familiar with this thing|called body mass, BMI,
which is the ratio of your weight|to your height? Yeah.
And in a healthy male we would like|that to be over 20.
Now yours is coming in at under 18.
Your body's in a bit|of a starvation state.
Yeah, so it's gonna start using up|other sources of energy.
And you don't want to|get to the point
where it starts wasting muscle away.
So it starts using protein for fuel,
because that's the point where it's|very, very hard to build up again.
And I would like to lot,|I would say, bulkier.
I know I look thin.
I don't look slim,|I look like a stick.
Are you worried about what you see?|Er, I don't like what I see.
So you would be happier|if you looked healthier?
Yeah.|OK.
I think at the moment|you're like a house plant
with no plant food and no water.
And we want you to blossom.|Yeah.
I was really taken aback|when I met Aaron.
Because he looked sick!
And I hope that the simple|suggestions we gave to him
about how he can change things NOW
and ultimately feel better|and look better,
he's taken on board.
I did like the way that she went for|saying how it could be if I did eat,
as opposed to saying how it will be|if I don't eat.
They'd done it in a way
that appealed to me.
'With no time to waste,
Charlotte sends Aaron home
with a homework hamper filled with|tasks for the week ahead.
And it starts with something to get|those blood sugar levels up.'
"Breakfast is the most important|meal of the day.
This week I would like you to eat
a piece of fruit or one type of|breakfast food every morning.
It must be of nutritious value.|Enjoy."
I don't think anything|looks appealing.
And I don't think I'm at a point|where I'll enjoy food.
That's a healthier breakfast|than I would eat.
(BOTH LAUGH)
Guess I've kind of gotten|everything I need from this,
and now I need to just go away|and think,
process it all in my head.
'Breakfast is a scary prospect,
and it doesn't take long before Aaron|needs to make rules
in order to cope.'
The rule of one nutritious thing|a day is limiting me a bit.
I'd rather have the choice|of being able to eat one thing,
new thing, a day,|or not trying one new thing a day.
I know you feel pressured,
but is the fact that you try|and make rules for it, then,
just something that you find|comfortable with food?
Is it part of your, like, control?|I suppose so, yeah.
I think I'm gonna start Monday.
I just think that's the start|of the week,
that will be a good time|to start.
For me it is hard to see Aaron
eating a full meal|in a couple of weeks' time.
After all these years of him just|eating Yorkshire puddings,
it's so, so hard to see|that he's going to be able
to try all the new things you can|possibly have in a meal.
But I haven't given up on him.
'With his homework hamper on hold,
the following morning,
Aaron heads off for his first|one-on-one with Charlotte.'
This exercise today is really about|me finding out where Aaron is,
him understanding his own|relationship with food,
and between those two things
really finding out|how we can move them forward.
How is this looking to you?
Daunting.
I'm quite nervous at the moment.
There seems to be a lot of things|that aren't consistent.
Oh, I see - kind of uniform.|Yeah.
For instance, all of your Yorkshire|puddings look the same.
So you feel safe|within boundaries.
Do you eat nuts at all?|Have you ever eaten nuts? No.
They just don't look appealing|whatsoever.
They don't look like food,|I suppose.
I guess I'm trying to think of like|a procedure I'd have to go through
before I try it.
Oh, you're trying to make some more|rules around trying the new things.
Yeah.
Are you feeling|real resistance here?
I know in my head what's the worst|that can happen. Yeah.
But it's still something|I wouldn't enjoy doing.
What happened? What was the bit|where you suddenly...
Hm.
I mushed it, and then I'd get|a hard bit again.
Unlike something like|the Yorkshire pudding
where the whole thing|kind of goes pfft really quickly?
'After a little success|with the nuts,
Charlotte hopes fruit|might be easier to swallow.'
That's pear and that's apple.
Eugh, that's really horrible.
In which way?
Slimy. Leaving residue on my hand.
I guess in my head|it doesn't feel right.
Can you define "right"?
I guess it's to do with the fact
that nothing else I eat|is anything like it.
'Charlotte's going nowhere fast,
but makes a last-ditch attempt|to get Aaron to combine foods,
something he's never done before.'
How does the idea of putting two|things in your mouth at once|feel to you?
If I did have two things
I'd have to enjoy the things|separately beforehand. OK.
I'd say carrot dipped in|a bit of soft cheese.
Do you want to taste a bit of|the cheese first?
That would be easier.|OK.
Here you are.
(CHUCKLES)
I don't know why I can't try it.
It's like|I can't will myself to.
Like I'm thinking in my head,|"Come on," but I can't.
I-I don't know why.
Ooh, no. Instantaneous.
All the foods in front of you are|important to try and consider
as part of a diet that we need to|work you towards.
This is something you need to|start doing yourself.
I'm not gonna be there at home|to sit here and go...
(LAUGHS)
Are you ready to do that?|I think so, yeah.
What I learnt from Aaron today|is that he is a very extreme case.
He's incredibly systematic|in his approach,
and it's very much applied around|his old rules.
And he needs to let go of those|a bit.
Unfortunately that's not really|gonna work here.
It's really hard for me to explain,
and I don't even understand|all the rules myself,
but it's almost like I have to break|everything down into logic
before I can even attempt|to try anything new.
ALARM CLOCK PLAYS A TUNE
'It's Monday morning,
and Aaron's up early to tackle|Charlotte's homework task -
muesli.
This will the first time he's ever|attempted to eat a proper breakfast.'
Not sure how well I'll fare here.
It's quite hard to map out|my routine.
It's just I have to think|about things quite a bit
before I can try it.
I don't think there's anything|in life that, for me,
that translates to how hard|I find it to try food.
Don't think I should have put|so much in the bowl.
Aaron?|(AARON SPITS)
TOILET FLUSHES
No.
I kind of panicked when it didn't|go down with the milk.
Not chewing it. I figured|it was not chewable stuff.
No.
'With Aaron still struggling to get|his head around his homework task,
Felix wants to uncover what lies at|the root of his eating problems.'
Where do you feel this developed,
this idea of you can only eat|certain foods and then nothing else?
I think I've been like it|ever since I was born.
So up to what age were you still|just drinking formula milk?
Probably about the age of six.
Right, wow.|That is obviously a long time.
Yeah, they said they went to|the doctor about it.
Why am I still on milk?
And the doctor just said,|"He'll grow out of it eventually."
And I think they just took that|on board,
and then that was the big mistake.
OK, when you think of Dad,
what are the first three adjectives|that come to mind?
I see him as a bit clumsy|and a bit foolish, I think.
And when you think of Mum?
She's a bit over-caring.
How is she over-caring?
Um, well, she just kind of hassles|me all the time about it.
"What have you eaten?|What have you had today?
What are you going to eat later?"|And I just get tired of it.
So the way to not help you|is to nag you.
As soon as someone nags you, you go|the other way and you resist.
I feel pressured about it.
So from an early age|you got your way
with food and then eating|on your own,
and obviously that's gonna ruin|the closeness of the family.
You're not eating around meal times,|and chatting and conversing.
And also you wouldn't necessarily|see your parents as parents,
as leaders.
It's more like you seem to call|the shots.
In a way, yeah.|In a way. OK.
I don't think I really am|that close to any of my family.
Right.
And that seems to be partly|out of choice, is it?
I suppose so.
It just seems awkward to try|and step up the communication.
Do you have any ideas|about why that might be?
I think a lot of it|had to do with the fact
that I felt like|they were hassling me a lot
about my eating and stuff.
Oh, right.
I just kept shouting at them for it|and stuff.
Cos it seems unusual.
Most of us seek|some kind of closeness,
at least until we're teenagers,|then we want to break away.
So for it to happen|at such a young age,
it's kind of interesting,|and it's intriguing for me.
Aaron seems to be putting up|barriers with his family
in much the same way|he does with his food.
So in order for him to progress
and for me to help him overcome|these barriers,
I need to work with him|to discover further
what triggered these food problems|in the first place.
I really wasn't sure why Felix was|asking me all these questions
about my family.
I don't think it made much sense and|I don't think it was very relevant
and I'm not really sure what to make|of that session as a whole.
'The next morning, Holly is up early|with Aaron
to help him with his second attempt|at tackling breakfast cereal.
But before long, he's back to|his old trick -
putting things off.'
What are you going to do|when I'm not here
and you've got to eat something?
Why don't you do it now,|while I'm here?
Then at least you've got|some sort of help.
I suppose if I was going to try|anything, it would be the hot oats.
I'm gonna go put my phone on charge.|It's low on battery.
No matter how much you try,
he doesn't seem to see it|as encouragement.
He just takes it straightaway|as pressure,
and it's annoying,|because I have to keep doing it.
Just do it!
'Sensing Holly's frustration,
Aaron finally relents and gets|his oats in the microwave.'
If you keep playing with it|you're gonna make it look worse.
Hm.
Come on.
I hate this barrier.
Yeah, I know.
I think it stresses me out|cos it's hot,
and it's stressing me out because|it'll go cold if I don't eat it.
And because I'm worried|about it going cold
that pushes me away from it more.|Yeah.
It's too complicated.|How is it complicated?
Too...bitty.|The cereal?
It's just cereal.|It's not, though.
It's not milk and solid,|it's mush and more mush.
I'm annoyed at myself|for not being able to try it,
cos it should be so easy,|but it's so not.
No.
I really don't know what's best|for Aaron now.
At one point he was...|he was quite close to tears.
And it's a real shame,
because he seemed so positive|about it to start off with.
I felt quite bad for him,
because I've never seen him get that|sort of stressed about food.
It has left me thinking,
is he gonna change his mind|about this whole thing?
And if what he's gone through so far
has been a waste of time,|just because of some hot oats.
'Aaron's halfway through|his dietary makeover,
but he still hasn't left|the starting gate.
Felix needs a plan to move him on.
And fast.'
Aaron's a very severe case
with almost obsessive-compulsive|type of rules and behaviour.
And I think understanding his|thought processes as a child
may help me to move him forward|in the present.
I'd like you to imagine
that you're standing on an imaginary|time line of your life.
You're in the present.
There's the future.|Behind you is the past.
I'd like you to consider taking|a step forward in the future,
to a time in the future
where what you've come to see me|about is resolved
to your satisfaction.
Deep breath and...excellent.
Here you are in the future.
How is it different here for you?
Um, I feel a lot healthier.
Um, you know, stronger, faster.
Excellent.
What I'd like you to do is take a|step back into that present state.
When you look at that future you,|my question is,
what specifically prevents you|being there right now?
It's my mind.
My invisible wall of not being able|to try new things.
The thing that frustrates me is I|don't know what is holding me back.
OK, well, that's what we're here to|explore a little bit.
We're just here to find out. So this|is what I'd like you to do.
I'd like you to really tune into|the obstacle in a moment.
Really allow yourself|to feel the block.
And I want you to track those|memories back
to the very first time you recall,
you know, "When did I first create|this block?"
I'm finding it really hard to|understand it.
Right. I just cannot move|that feeling back with me.
So something's happening around you|in your environment.
Can you get a sense|what you're reacting to here?
Not really.
I don't know why this is so hard.
What's the specific difficulty here|for you?
I don't like going back|in my memory.
I think when I was like the age|of 16,
I kind of was like new Aaron
and just ignored the rest before it.
We're not asking you to be that|Aaron again once and for all time.
We're asking you to get some|important information
that will shed some light|on the future
so we can make some changes.
'The session continues, but the more|Felix probes into Aaron's past,
the more he resists.'
Can't see how it relates,|so that's all...
Right.|That's what's putting me off.
The reason that|it's making me resist
is cos I don't see how
this has anything to do with|why I can't eat food,
because I know it's been|since birth.
What you're sort of doing today|is similar to what you do with food.
If you get uncomfortable|around food,
you shut down and you withdraw.
The block is coming up|and using this as well.
"Because I can't get it,|I'm not gonna do it."
And I don't think that's the real|cause of this resistance.
I think you just don't wanna|go somewhere
because you associate it with|something really, really negative.
It's just one of those things.
The way I eat is one of those things|and I'm trying to get over it.
It's got nothing to do with|any deep-seated secrets
or underlying personality problems|or...
It's just something that's happened.
It's not all these deep things|with my family.
That's just other crap|that's gone on.
If I've had these eating habits|since I was born,
I can't see how anything that's|happened between then and now
has any relevance to why|I eat like I do.
It's almost like he wants to change|without putting any work into it.
He just wants it to be magically|transferred to him.
And that's just not how it works.
It's again Aaron being his own|worst enemy about something,
and coming up with reasons|and excuses
not to engage in the therapy.
And that's a frustrating position|for a therapist to be in.
Hello.|MUM: Hello!
How did it go?
Just a load of pointless stuff|that was completely pointless
and was a waste of time.
I'd have had more fun at home.
Well, I've kind of got it in my head|that this is about eating,
and then they do|all this other stuff
that's got nothing to do with it.
Waste of time.
Sort of retracing to your steps,|you know?
And nothing drastic happened|when I was seven
that made me not stop eating,|did it?
No.|Well, there we go.
They're trying to make we work out|distant memories,
which are a load of (BLEEP).
You know, when I held you down|and stood on you,
and said, "You eat this."
And we force-fed you|when we put a funnel in your mouth.
Hopefully I'm doing|something useful tomorrow
that'll actually be useful.
You like Charlotte.|I like Charlotte.
Cos she talks about food.
'Felix and Charlotte|decide they need to change tack
if they ever want to get through|to Aaron.
Charlotte thinks a bit of|food science
might appeal to Aaron's|over-analytical brain.'
The purpose of today is to really|work with the way Aaron thinks.
He's very systematic, he likes to|break things down to progress
and he likes to know why|before he does something.
So I've brought him to|a food science lab
where he'll get to taste|new flavours,
he'll get to understand|how the tongue works.
That way when he starts to try|new things
it's not just a massive bombardment|of the senses.
'Charlotte's got a plan she hopes|will persuade Aaron
to abandon some of his food rules.
She's brought him to meet|food analyst Dave Hart.'
What we're gonna try and explain is|how your sense of taste works.
There are only five basic tastes,
and all of these you taste|on your tongue, OK?
Anything beyond these five you need|your nose for as well.
So this is sweet, OK?
Yeah.
The next one is bitter.|OK. OK.
This is sour.
All right.
Now this is salt.
All right. Yuck!
This is the fifth taste.
This one may not be|so familiar to you.
This is a taste called umami,
which is Japanese for|"delicious taste", basically.
And it's a taste|that comes from glutamates.
Your tongue is coated with hundreds|and hundreds of little things
we refer to as taste buds.
We can show this on your tongue|by staining it blue,
the little taste buds|standing out as being pink.
Can you see the density of the taste|buds is quite high
on the tip of the tongue?|Oh.
Which means actually Aaron's|probably quite a sensitive taster.
Which means, actually,|when he's trying new foods,
they are gonna be...
They are gonna seem more intense|than they might do to,
definitely, to me,|and maybe to you.
'But Aaron's problem isn't simply|that food tastes stronger to him.'
I guess one of my problems is that|I associate tastes with image. Yeah.
'Charlotte hopes that if Aaron|can't see what he's eating
his mind will stop telling him|not to eat it.'
Now I've lost the main sense I use,|and it kind of makes me nervous.
Yeah.
OK, you ready?|Not really.
OK.
Um, is that carrot?|Yeah!
Hm. The texture, I think maybe|because I didn't see it,
just kind of was like,|this is a bit strange,
but wasn't ultimately making me|want to get it out of my mouth.
Brilliant. So what's the difference,|then, when you can't see it?
There's less me trying to think|it out, I think. Yeah.
Is this gonna be any more|complicated? No.
There's some...crispy. Some.|Mm.
Had a bit more flavour to it.
Felt a bit more...|I'd use the word "meaty".
But I mean -|Yeah, that's good.
That was a beetroot crisp.
A beetroot crisp?|Yes.
OK.|OK, you ready?
Wasn't too bad. Banana.
It's actually Kiwi fruit.
Kiwi fruit. Can I take these|off now? Yes, absolutely.
What I find so interesting is you|were very willing,
in comparison, to just take the food|and experience it.
If you looked at it before|you had tasted it,
without the visuals, how do you|think you would have felt about it?
It would have taken a lot more|for me to put it in my mouth.
As it progressed and he actually|started trying real food
and responding to that,
he could logically|move his way forward,
and that's really important to him
and how he manages his problem|and how to get out of it.
Thought that was a lot better.
I learnt a lot about the core things|about food,
and I think it's important to be|able to know the underlying stuff
before I can really get on with it,|really.
Pleased with the day.
I think it was very positive.
There was a lot I learned,
and definitely a good push|in the right direction, I think.
'The next morning,
empowered by the previous day's|food revelations,
Aaron attacks Charlotte's next|homework hamper.'
"There are some suggested lunch|and dinner recipes
for you to try this week.
I would like you to try a different|lunch and dinner every day."
Crunchy vegetable stir fry.
Right, that's far too complicated.
Vegetable and lentil,|a homely chunky soup.
Eugh.
'But without a blindfold,
it's not long before|those barriers go up.'
Free range egg noodles.
No.
I have no idea.
Not really sure what do to with any|of this stuff here.
I think this week's gonna be|a bit more difficult.
I think a lot of these foods|I'm gonna put in my mouth
and instantly hate and never want to|go near again.
Don't know how ready I am|for this yet.
'That evening, Aaron's still stuck|on what to do with his hamper,
so he enlists the help of his mum.'
There must be something|that you fancy.
And you've got to help yourself.
I can't keep suggesting things.
You should be suggesting things|to me,
what you want doing,
and then we could cook|them together.
I'm too pressured into it.
You know, I can't figure out a way|in my head where I can do this.
There's no system to it.
I can't work my way through|any certain things.
I can't...
This...
I can't figure out what the problem|is with me at the moment.
I can't figure out|why I can't try new things
cos I can't figure out|how to decide what I should try.
And it's just pissing me off.
Yeah, but I'm frightened
you're getting all this help|and it's still not working,
not really.
Only in little tiny doses.
And I'm frightened, when this ends,
you're just gonna go downhill again,
straight back to...
Cos the more I pressurise you,|you're...
..you're telling me,|"I don't want it. Go away."
Hm.
And it's been like it|all these years, really.
Mm, I know.|It's how I work with everything.
I need a switch to go off|in my head.
And I don't know what I need to do
to make my mental ba...
..this switch to go back on again.
Maybe that's the problem,|because I don't know what to try,
but I can't tell...
You're waiting for me to tell you|what I want to try and I don't know,
so we're in a catch-22.
I don't know, Aaron,|I'm not an expert.
I don't know what to suggest at all.
At the moment I'm getting|quite stressed.
I can hear myself|sort of nagging him.
(LAUGHS)
Oh, never mind.
Perhaps next week|will be a lot better.
'Felix thinks|Aaron's family's approach
to his food problems as a child
is a key obstacle to him changing.
So far Aaron's resisted any attempts|to explore this,
but Felix fully intends to revisit|his past
if he's to help Aaron move on.
For now, though,|there are more pressing matters.'
The aim of today is twofold.
I need to rebuild some of the trust|and rapport I've had with Aaron,
and then I need to show Aaron|a practical way
for him to overcome his severe|limitations with his eating,
which are really hindering|his progress.
'If Aaron is to change,
he'll need to really work with Felix|on this next task
to obliterate those barriers.'
So where do you think you need|the most help to move forward?
I think I need to work through|my logic in my head.
There are some rules here,|some food rules.
What would the top three ones be,|for example?
Fear of the unknown.|Fear of the unknown.
I wish I could just eat|and wish I could enjoy food.
I want you to consider|those three rules
that are the obstacles to your|eating the way you want to,
and what I'd like you to do is kind|of very symbolic here.
I've got some paper over there|and I'd like you to spell out
each of these rules,|one at a time.
So this is your obstacle, your|mental barrier, fear of the unknown.
OK.
I want you to get in the car and|I want you to get really motivated
and I want you to just|drive right through this,
lift up your arm,|just smash through this barrier.
All right.|How does that sound?
Sounds good. Sounds empowering.|That's the plan.
I want you to get in a very|powerful, motivated state right now.
Smash through!
Whoo-hoo!
Hooray!
Whoo-hoo!
What did that feel like?
It's good.|It's good!
Well, doing things, just like that,|without much thought,
just going ahead and doing it,|can be just a lot of fun.
Yeah. We just make it bigger|than it needs to be.
Go straight through and do it, you|find, what was all the fuss about?
Ultimately those rules|are just there to be broken.
How confident do you feel right now|about doing that with your diet?
Pretty confident.|Good.
I can imagine just the feelings|I got just, "I'm gonna do this."
And the motivation I had behind it|just to smash through it, you know?
If I could put that|into trying food,
you know, I think it would be|very positive.
I think I had a lot of fun,
and I think I broke down some|barriers in more ways than one.
I do believe there's a part of Aaron|that really doesn't want to change,
but even so, I can't do that work|for him,
so we still need commitment|from him,
and the courage and the focus,|everything that that entails.
'Felix may have instilled some|self-belief in Aaron,
but if he's to move forward,
it's food barriers he needs to break|through, not paper ones.'
CHARLOTTE: So how have you been|getting on since I last saw you?
I really haven't tried much|in the last week.
I got thrown off by the hamper,|I think.
Can you tell me|what threw you off there?
It all happened a bit too fast.
Like I had breakfast, fruit,|every day,
and then I kind of went,|three meals - flumf! -
right all the way up|on the difficulty meter.
And it kind of just|intimidated me a bit.
What you're doing at the moment|is putting objections up
for the sake of objections,|rather than going,
"Actually, you know what?|I'm gonna have to do this."
So what I wanted|to do with you today
is find a way that we can prepare|some simple meals together,
but make sure that they're simple|enough for you to continue
and not feel like|they make you shut down.
'As Aaron is hiding behind|a lack of knowledge,
Charlotte resorts to working with him
to go through the contents|of the homework hamper.'
OK, Aaron, what I want to do|for you today
is start with some pasta
and a very simple pasta sauce.
Then I want to make|an omelette with you.
One portion.
Put it in there.
You see there you've got a kind|of... That's simmering.
Jacuzzi.|Yeah, a Jacuzzi is simmering.
OK!|That's what you want.
How does that look to you?
Red. It probably tastes red|as well.
I don't think I'm gonna fare|too well with this meal.
Could you tell me why?|It's got bits in it.
You've got a sauce.|You've got pasta.
OK, so if we take a piece of this.
Do you want to grab a bit?
A bit with sauce on.
How do you feel about|this forkful?
I don't know.|Cheers. (LAUGHS)
It's all right.|Hooray!
'As success starts to creep up|on Aaron,
Charlotte moves on to an omelette.'
I want to know|what you think about this.
Looks too yellow. (LAUGHS)
That is an absolutely classic|combination.
What is it?|Red pepper. Grab that off my fork.
'Apart from his tongue and teeth,
this is the first time|Aaron has ever had
two things in his mouth|at the same time.'
Mm! That added. It gave it|plus points.
Yeah.
Not only did you try new eggs,
you tried them with the pepper,
but could recognise|that with a new food
that changed the taste.
So it's really a question of taking|all the positive bits from here,
and you must promise me that you'll|go away and write a list of those.
And then really building on that.
Yeah?|Yeah.
I was please to see there were very|few objections raised.
Um, none, actually.
I really can't think of any.
No real barriers put up.
So he seemed open,
which means that there's something|to be worked with.
Aaron's final challenge seems|much more within reach now.
It seems that he could sit down in|front of a plate of mixed tastes
and textures,
something as varied enough|to call a meal,
and make some progress with it.
'With the taste of victory|still in his mouth,
that evening Aaron and Holly cook up|a list of further foods to try.'
Pasta. We need to work on pasta.
Yeah.
What do you eat pasta with?
Carbonara sauce.
That kind of sauce that I really|don't like the look of?
No, that's mayonnaise.
Cheese toastie.
Omelette.|Omelette.
Me and Holly made a nice list of all|the food I've tried,
and how to combine them.
I think if I continue doing this|every day
then I'll make a lot of progress.
'Over the next week, Aaron's food|barriers continue to crumble.'
Hello, video diary.
I'm eating pasta.
Not sure what sauce is on it,|but you know, it's all right.
Slowly my rules|are starting to cave in.
It's getting easier for me to bypass|them and say,
"That was my old rule, but now I|don't have to listen to it, really."
I'm feeling quite shocked about|Aaron's swift turnaround.
I actually made one of these|by myself, so...
I never would have expected him to|be eating the stuff he's eating.
'He still can't stomach dining|with his parents,
but does start eating similar foods|to them.'
He did try, um, carrots, cauliflower|and broc.
And yes, he ate the lot.
So we think, yes,|it's definitely a breakthrough.
Just flabbergasted.
Mm. That's all right.
'As Aaron's forging ahead|with his new diet,
Felix feels it's the right time|to try and readdress the past
and the issues behind|his eating problems
if he's going to have any hope|of continuing to change.'
Aaron is finally making some|progress with his eating,
which is great.
But if he's to continue with|this path,
we need him to work on|those barriers
he puts up with his parents.
'Felix is taking the family|to a country retreat.
The aim is to get them talking|honestly about the past,
how Aaron's food freakiness has been|difficult to deal with
and how they can be supportive of him|in the future.'
How do you feel about Aaron's|progress in general?
Well, I can't believe it.|It's marvellous, yeah.
I'm just really astounded by it.|Great.
We're getting there.|Yeah, getting there.
Some meals we struggle with.
I've brought you here today
to help you have that one last push
in the final stages of overcoming|this whole problem.
I know that perhaps you're not
the most emotionally expressive|family together round Aaron,
but if we can learn to enhance that|communication a little bit,
then I think it's going to help you|move forward into the future.
So over there we have three easels.
In a moment I'd like you each|to go over to one,
and then I'll just ask you to write|your feelings down
about certain topics.
I just know this is utterly|going to fail.
You think?|BOTH: Yeah.
All right, so, shall we?
What I'd like you to consider|in the past is,
the past 18 years,
how you've really been feeling
about Aaron's relationship with food|as a family,
the impact it's had on you,|your fears,
um, hopes and the things|you didn't understand.
All folded arms.
(LAUGHS)
It's just the number one.
That's all it was,|always will be,
was the worry factor.
I used to say, "Although we're|nagging you, Aaron,
you just don't know how much me|and Mum do worry about you."
Yeah, I did feel|I sort of was failing him.
Is that what motivated you to just|try and nag him more?
Yes. It's a vicious circle,|isn't it?
That you're trying and forcing|things onto him,
and, "Come on, he's got to do this,"|you know?
I don't think there's anything|you could have done.
I mean, to me it was normal.|Sure.
And just saying to me, "You know|we're worrying about you,"
you know, in my head that's just|trying to upset me.
So it just makes me want to|lash back
and not do it even more,|so we're just going in circles.
From your perspective, um,
Aaron was not trying it because he|was just being, what, fussy?
Yeah, fussy, awkward, yeah.
I think that's where a lot|of the problems lied with it.
If you think I'm trying to do it|to spite you or something,
and I'm genuinely doing it because|I don't want to eat it,
cos I'm terrified of trying it,
that's where all of our arguments|were stemming from.
Part of you, Aaron,|now realises that
it was coming out of a sheer, like,
"What do I do to get this child to|eat, cos I'm worried about him."
Frustration.|Thank you. It's exactly the word.
So knowing that now,
does that change the way you feel|about the past at all?
I think it's been good
to just get everything out|in the open.
It's just nice|to be told everything.
I thought that exercise|went really well.
I didn't think it would|in the first place,
but once it got started|it went really well.
We're very quiet with each other.
We don't elaborate|on our feelings much.
So it was good that we were talking|to each other
and not going all awkward about it.
So I think everything|we're doing together
is just helping that bit more.
So I think that has brought us|closer together, yeah.
I think what this might do for Aaron|and his parents in the future
is to learn to build an appreciation
that Aaron has his own way|of doing things.
And nagging him is not the best way.
So learning to allow him
to find his own ways around food|is gonna be very important.
'One month since he decided to ditch|his freaky eating,
it's the day of Aaron's|final challenge.
For the first time in his life,
he's getting ready to go out to|a restaurant,
and attempt to eat a meal that hasn't|been cooked by his mum at home.'
What could go wrong tonight
is if something doesn't look like|I expected it to.
If I've tried something in the past|and failed,
I've just kicked myself for|a few days
and stopped...not tried new things.
So, um, yeah, I think it'd be a bit|of a throw if I fail tonight.
But let's hope I don't.
'Aaron has decided that he'd like to|face his final challenge
with his mates and not his family.
But they are anxious for him.'
MUM: I'm nervous|because he's nervous, I think.
Hopefully there's a varied menu
and there'll be something there|that he'll try.
'Aaron's off to an Italian cafe,
where his friends hope to see him eat|a meal for the first time ever.
He has no idea what's on the menu,|but one thing's for sure -
there'll be no Yorkshire puddings|in sight.'
The more I think about something,|the more stressed I get.
So I'm just letting it happen.
I think he does feel|under pressure a bit.
He's not used to eating|in front of everyone.
I have doubts that he'll actually|even do it.
I really do think|Aaron's gonna struggle,
but hopefully he'll put everything|he's learned over the past few weeks
into practice|and just sort of go for it
and try not to panic over the amount|of things on the menu.
'Felix and Charlotte have dropped by
to give him some words|of encouragement.'
How are you feeling?|Er, I'm fine at the moment.
I might get a bit nervous|when I sit down
and I know that the food's coming.
Yeah. Are you gonna finish|a whole plate today?
I'll try my best. What's the most|important thing for you tonight?
Just enjoying myself.
If you can relax tonight around food
then you'll be relaxing for the rest|of your life about it.
'First Aaron will have to decide|what to eat.'
I'm scanning down the menu.
I have no idea what any|of these are.
'Fazed by the menu,
Aaron settles for something that|seems vaguely familiar - pizza.'
Tomato and mozzarella.
I don't think I'm gonna be able to|eat all of this. Just do it.
Just eat a whole -|Uh-huh. Just take a big bite.
With the tomato in, cheese and|everything else and you'll be fine.
Oh, wow!|Hooray.
How was that?|Not too fond of these tomatoes.
They squirt too much.
They're too cold|for the rest of the pizza.
But you will eat them,|which is the main thing.
A couple of weeks ago|you wouldn't have gone near that.
I'm just surprised you tried it.
'Aaron's done brilliantly,
but there's only so much|his small stomach can take.'
I'm so full.|Just finish off that bit, then.
We're all very proud, Aaron.
You can come out for meals|with us now.
Yes!|(THEY CHEER)
'Aaron might not have finished|the whole pizza,
but he's not worried.
How did it go?|Quite well, I think.
Wow!|Yeah!
I didn't eat too much,|but I'm quite full.
Is that more than you've eaten|in a meal ever, would you say?
Yeah.
Holly, how do you feel?|Proud.
Awww.|And shocked at the same time.
Who here is surprised by this?
I was amazed how far he's come|from the beginning.
The change is amazing.
Do you feel that the goals|you set out to achieve
all those weeks ago have been met to|your satisfaction?
Yeah, definitely.
Eat a meal out with friends.|I've done that.
I'm really proud of him,
and the way he's learnt to handle|trying new foods.
It's just unbelievable when you see|him the way he was before,
and now you see him now,|and it's just so, so weird.
What's impressive for me was|all those rigid food rules
just swept away with him.
He just went ahead|and enjoyed a meal.
Whoo-hoo!
It's freedom in that he can enjoy|his life with his friends.
Yeah.|So that's incredible. That's huge.
Huge mountain for him to climb.
In a way this has been|a, like a rebirth for me.
It's like I've finished boot camp
and I've finally gotten all that|last problem out of the way
that you have when you're a child,
and now I'll just be able to finally|get on with my life.
Closed Captions by CSI