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- Inside the episode: how the habit played out on TV
- From a dare to daily practice: the origin story
- What she consumes nasally
- Social fallout: dating and family reactions
- Medical perspective: why doctors warn against nasal feeding
- Attempts to change and the aftermath of exposure
- Where to watch and show details
On the Season 7 premiere of TLC’s My Strange Addiction, a Virginia woman stunned viewers by sucking pureed meals up through a straw and into her nose. The scene was raw, odd, and hard to ignore — and it sparked a mix of curiosity, concern, and online chatter.
Inside the episode: how the habit played out on TV
The show followed the woman, identified as Kathryn, as she explained how nasal feeding became part of her daily life. Cameras captured a date at a local eatery where she asked staff to prepare food she could draw through a straw.
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Her routine drew immediate reactions from other diners and from the man she had been seeing. The footage shows the awkwardness and the tension when someone unfamiliar with the practice watches it for the first time.
From a dare to daily practice: the origin story
Kathryn traces the behavior back to community college, when a dare led her to try a flavored drink through the nose. She felt a strong sensation and preferred the taste that way.
What began as an experiment slowly became habitual. Over several years she adapted her meals so they could be blended and inhaled.
What she consumes nasally
- Blended omelettes with spinach and mushrooms
- Pureed steak and vegetables
- Iced coffee and other drinks
- Spicy blends such as guacamole
Kathryn says the texture is the main issue. She avoids solid mouth-feeding because she dislikes certain textures.
Social fallout: dating and family reactions
The practice has affected her relationships. Friends and family expressed disgust. Potential partners struggled to accept it.
A date at District Biscuit Company
On the show, she met a man named Justin for a meal. He brought flowers. She asked staff if food could be made straw-friendly.
When she used a straw up her nostril at the table, the date reacted with shock. Other patrons noticed. The encounter made it clear the habit complicates romantic prospects.
Medical perspective: why doctors warn against nasal feeding
Physicians featured on the program emphasized concrete risks. Nasal intake of food is not the same as clinical enteral feeding.
Key health hazards
- Aspiration: Food can enter the airway and lungs, causing breathing blockage.
- Infection: Liquids in the lungs raise the risk of pneumonia and systemic spread.
- Tissue damage: Acidic or spicy substances can burn nasal and throat linings.
- Long-term complications: Repeated irritation could lead to chronic inflammation.
One doctor on the show examined Kathryn and found no immediate lung wetness. He nonetheless warned that the practice could lead to severe outcomes if left unchecked.
Attempts to change and the aftermath of exposure
After filming, Kathryn said she was cutting back. She described the process as gradual and tied to personal work.
She revealed the date with Justin ended with him distancing himself. He did not bring flowers again and moved the relationship toward friendship.
The episode sparked debate online about unusual eating behaviors, personal autonomy, and when medical intervention is needed.
Where to watch and show details
My Strange Addiction airs on TLC. New episodes were scheduled on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT during the season that featured Kathryn.
