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Daily Record
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Josie Adnitt & Jon Brady

Dad forced to live on diet of Easters eggs has scoffed over 200 in 2023

Meet the dad who is forced to live on a diet of Easter eggs - and has already eaten more than 200 this year.

Ashley Kean, 30, says he can only digest chocolate, mashed potato, Yorkshire puddings and fruit but is yet to understand why. But from January to April each year, he gorges on Easter treats - at a cost of hundreds of pounds.

Ashley, a sales assistant from Castleford, West Yorkshire, reckons he eats between three and six eggs a day. But he admits he does get sick of them - and wishes he could eat a normal diet.

The dad-of-two says his strange habits started when he was a baby and have continued into adult life. He has been to see the doctor about it, but was told everything was 'normal' - leading him to think it could be psychological.

Ashley said: "My diet is quite boring and not something I enjoy. I can't have meals with my two kids so we can't go out for family meals and stuff like that.

Ashley Kean is yet to get to the bottom of why he can only eat certain foods (SWNS)

Could you survive on a diet of Easter eggs? Share your thoughts in the comments.

"It is massively frustrating, especially at Christmas. From the start of January through to April I eat over the 250 Easter eggs.

"It averages out between three and six a day depending on how hungry I get. It's like the best part of the year for me.

"I eat a lot of the £1 Easter eggs and spend a lot of money on them. My diet is quite boring and not something I enjoy, I can't have meals with my two kids so we can't go out for family meals and stuff like that."

Ashley says that he threw up every time he tried a new food as a baby, as he was being weaned off milk. He has now developed a severe aversion to trying new foods due to the fear he will again be sick.

Despite visiting numerous doctors over the years, no one has been able to identify the issue Ashley says he even requested a 'full-body MOT', expecting that his diet had left him with health problems.

But all his results came back showing full health. One possible diagnosis is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, Ashley says – a condition characterised by the person avoiding certain foods or types of food.

Doctors say Ashley's health is perfectly normal despite his diet (SWNS)

So far this year he has eaten 208 Easter eggs since January - spending around £330 on the sweet treats. Now, he says his dietary restrictions have left him depressed and searching for support or help.

Ashley said: "It's getting to point where it's coming towards Easter and I've had them for past nearly four months. I'm getting quite sick of them.

"On the outside I look like normal 30-year-old. It's depressing but it's something I've always lived with.

"The amount of chocolate I eat isn't normal, yet I'm not diabetic or anything, how is everything fine? A lot of people say, 'If you only eat chocolate, why aren't you the size of a house?'

"I requested a full MOT from the doctors a few years ago because I thought, 'Surely I can't be perfectly fine'. I did all the tests and they said all my levels were perfect. But how when this is my diet?

"There's no meat, veg or takeaways. I love mash but don't eat chips or jacket potatoes.

"I've tried different foods over the years to try and change my diet but now it's the fear of being sick. I hate being sick and don't want to put myself through that.

Ashley Kean says he would like to eat other foods (SWNS)

"Before I had kids, I couldn't stand the smell of food or touching food. But since having kids I can cook food for them and my partner.

"It does frustrate me that I can't go out with them and have a meal - if we go out for a meal, I'll just sit and have a couple of drinks. It's frustrating because where do I go from here? It's getting to the point where it's my diet and I have to accept it."

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