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STUDENT Vicki Larrieux cannot eat her five-a-day because she is frightened of ­vegetables.
She suffers from a fear called lachanophobia, which leaves her sweating and stricken with panic attacks at the mere sight of a sprout or a pea.
The 22-year-old, from Portsmouth, survives on a diet of meat, potatoes, cereals and an occasional apple but refuses to even accept a solitary slice of carrot on her dinner plate.
She said: “I have always had an irrational fear of vegetables – even as a child I used to properly freak out if some carrots or a few peas were on my plate.
“But as it continued into adult life I started to think it might not just be a dislike of vegetables but an actual phobia.
“Every time I would see vegetables, not just on my plate but anywhere, I would get feelings of panic, start sweating and my heart rate would shoot up.”
The unusual fear affects a few thousand people in Britain and treatments for the condition include “psychological reprogramming” to control the anxious response.
Vicki’s condition makes routine trips to the supermarket or a night out at a restaurant with boyfriend Joseph Jade, 25, a major problem.
She said: “It is a bit of an ordeal to go to the supermarket because the veg is usually right by the door.
“My boyfriend is very understanding and does his best to accommodate me. It is a good job he isn’t a vegetarian because it just wouldn’t work.
“I am learning to control my fear but it isn’t easy.
“It is a hard thing to have to bring up when I meet new people and I’m sure some must think I’m taking the mickey.
“I’d love to be able to sit down to a slap-up Sunday roast with a pile of greens and I’m sure one day that will happen.”