16-year-old girl eats Christmas dinner for the first time after food phobia keeps her eating only CHEESE SANDWICHES

One TEENAGER managed to overcome her food fear and started her first Christmas dinner – after just gobbling up cheesecakes.

Gracie Rodd, 16, was only able to eat a selective diet after a devastating illness left her traumatized at the age of two.

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The teenage girl from Halifax, West Yorks, has only been able to enjoy beef and cheese for years – but her family was delighted after she devoured a hearty feast.

Gracie enjoys a Christmas dinner cooked by her mother Julie, 50, after years of simple bread and some chips on December 25.

Mother-of-two Julie said: ‘It was a real Christmas miracle that Gracie was trying out new dishes.

“In previous years, she would have a simple bread roll to start the Christmas holidays, followed by a cheese sandwich and some fries.

“But this year, she had a traditional dinner of chicken, Yorkshire pudding, roast beef and carrots.

“It’s been great that she feels included this year.”

Gracie developed agoraphobia at 18 months old when she developed severe reflux and was hospitalized due to dehydration.

She couldn’t hold on to any food and it completely changed the foods she would eat.

Julie adds: ‘We’ve tried a lot over the years to get her to eat something different but physically she just can’t.

“It all started when she was 18 months old and developed reflux and couldn’t hold anything down.

“She vomited from the bullets for a week and couldn’t hold it any longer.

“After that, her food intake completely changed – I thought she was still unwell but then her bland diet continued for years.

“She would have a panic attack when presented with anything but a cheeseburger or the occasional bowl of chips.

“She missed out on a lot because she couldn’t go out to eat with her friends.”

Last year, the family discovered their restrictive eating disorder (ARFID) online and signed up to see a psychologist in October of this year.

With the desire to change her diet, Gracie met Felix Economakis, and in just one session, for the first time in her life was able to make pizza, fruit and a ham sandwich. .

Julie said: “When I saw her eating, I started crying. We have been waiting for this moment for a long time.

“I have never seen her eat confidently, usually nerves take over. I was on the moon and was blown away.

“The lesson was life changing for Gracie! She spent most of her life unable to attend food-related social events with her friends but now she loves Pizza Hut.

“It’s amazing that her future is sorted and ARFID is no longer holding her back.”

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