'I ate only crisp sandwiches for two decades - I had to stop after developing chronic illness'


A woman who gorged on crisp sandwiches for more than two decades finally overhauled her diet after taking unwell. Zoe Sadler had eaten Walkers crisps on buttered white bread for two meals every day since she was a toddler.

The 26-year-old's unusual diet came about due to an aversion to other foods, which left her feeling physically sick. Zoe, 26, had no plans on changing her eating habits until she developed Multiple Sclerosis four years ago, the Liverpool ECHO reports.

The shock diagnosis prompted her to seek out a healthier lifestyle. And after turning to hypnotherapist David Kilmurry, she has been able to enjoy proper meals again.

Zoe Sadler ate crisp sandwiches for two meals for 23 years
Zoe Sadler ate crisp sandwiches for two meals for 23 years -Credit:SWNS

Reflecting on her past, Zoe, from Coventry, said: "My mum and dad say I tried other foods as a toddler but I always turned my nose up or refused to put them in my mouth. Apparently the only thing mum could get down me were crisps which I used to suck until they were soft."

"I remember being at school when I was little and having crisp sandwiches in my lunch box. They were the only thing I liked to eat.

"For breakfast, it would usually be a bowl of dry cereal, then a crisp sandwich for both lunch and dinner. I didn't mind trying different flavours of crisps because it was the texture that mattered to me."

Zoe began gorging on crisps as a toddler
Zoe began gorging on crisps as a toddler -Credit:SWNS

She added: "Christmas was always hard for me because I'd never want very much to eat. I'd be able to have a Yorkshire pudding but never with gravy."

After two two-hour sessions of hypnotherapy, Zoe was able to introduce fruits, vegetables, and other foods into her diet. She said: "I was diagnosed with MS and I just thought, I need to get healthier and feel better.

"I looked around on the internet and read some articles where David had helped other fussy eaters so contacted him. We had two two-hour sessions which felt like they lasted five minutes each and after the second one I was able to try loads of different foods.

Zoe can now eat full meals, after seeing a hypnotherapist
Zoe can now eat full meals, after seeing a hypnotherapist -Credit:SWNS

"I can't believe how nice strawberries are and I even tried a Wagamama chilli squid which was really spicy. I'm looking forward to trying curry and lots of other different foods."

Warehouse worker Zoe, who lives with her fiancé Jason Fox, 29, was also driven to conquer her obsession with crisp sandwiches in time to savour a hearty meal at her wedding. She said: "I really don't just want to be eating crisp sandwiches on my wedding day. Now I'm looking forward to planning our wedding day menu with Jason."

London-based therapist and hypnotist David Kilmurry hypnotised Zoe after diagnosing her with Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). He said: "Huge credit to Zoe on her recovery, her progress has been phenomenal and has superseded my expectations.

"In a very short amount of time with myself and at home she has been calmly eating new meals and incorporated many new high grade fruits and vegetables to her 'safe' foods list.

"Recently diagnosed with MS, it is dangerous for her to live on a diet of just crisp sandwiches even if you counteract it with exercise. Straight after hypnotism in the chair Zoe was open to trying new fruits and vegetables including cabbage, blueberries and left with a pot of nuts, cranberries and several other foods which she excitedly ate."

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