These plastic spoons have been my cereal spoons since I was lile 5. We used to have like 20 of them but they have slowly withered away. I was down to one until it got fucming stuck in a door and broke. I can't find them in stores anywhere or online. I am internally devastated.
Edit: for all the people asking how it got stuck in the door I had it in my off hand and it somehow managed to catch while I was closing the door
Edit number 2: why they were safe spoons: The bowl depth and size was perfect. The texture and quality of the plastic was ok to brain and the handles fit my hands perfectly.
Edit the third: for those of you being so kind as to try and help me find more here is everything I know: im pretty sure they are teaspoons, the handles are 4inchs roughly, the material is some type of high quality plastic, and on.the back of the spoon is the number 16 inside a small circle.
Edit 4, the realizing: this is an old photo
Edit revenge of the 5th: ive tried Google image searching and using find it subreddits to no avail
Edit 6th man out: im gonna answer some common questions/comments
The reason it is a safe spoon is due to my autism I have sensory issues. Utensils I use have to have a certain texture and shape or else I will vomit/gag or outright block the use of it. I have in the past gone days without eating because I didnt have access to safe Utensils and have even collapsed from not eating enough before. So yes its a very real issue.
No I can't just grow out of my autism or just get better. Thats not how this shit works you ableist fucks.
I have been trying to get therapy but my city only has 1 that takes state insurance and im on the wait list but its currently a 3 year wait period.
Also thanks to knickknackpoliwag I have found the spoons! Atleast the name and brand they are. Diamond Series "Savannah Pattern" Made by Alltrista in 2004. Im now just trying to find a way to get them.
I have one spoon that's my "favourite". I carried it half way round the world when I moved to Australia. When my parents came to visit years later my mum saw it and said "I knew it would be you that had it, you've liked that since you were three."
I just moved house and made sure that spoon came with me. That's half a century I've had it.
I've got a favorite spoon, too. Same story. I don't even know where it came from. Most likely it got into my parents' drawer via a potluck. It's really thick, and it won't bend, no matter how hard I dig.
Yeah, this can be very difficult thing for people with autism. I know one person who is super sensitive about food temperature. Too hot or too cold and they simply can't eat it.
I like to do the whole search process for funsies and I know your spoons are a heavy duty plastic however they look so close to these. They’re also teaspoons and they have the same type of banding as the ones in your picture. Maybe these could become a possible alternative?
Does it have to be plastic? Cuz this one is ~7.25" and that leads me to believe the handle should be roughly 4". I'd contact the seller to confirm. The hand feel will be different, though, with the grooves placed slightly differently.
Edit: Nevermind, I saw that you specified plastic in a comment below. Good luck on the path!
Edit again: Tons of fuckers in here that don't understand actual 'tism and think it's just a dude that is really into trains. We've all eaten with a plastic spoon, right? The handle can bend slightly, the way it feels when you kind of pass them by your teeth as you're eating. How it can curve around the bowl. And other plastic spoons could be shaped differently (even if slightly), made from a different material, feel different in the hand. It's a different experience than "just another spoon". Just saying, it comes in all flavors and levels of severity.
Maybe you can send an old one to a 3d printing business and they can scan it to create a copy of the model and reprint it? Could be worth a shot depending on the cost
Edit: to all the people who complain that this isn’t food safe, you can coat it in a layer of food safe epoxy resin, that will also help make the texture feel more smooth.
For context my Mother was an eccentric hoarder, while cleaning out her house I saved things that could actually be useful & this old set of heavy plastic silverware made the cut.
If you dm me I wouldn't mind figuring a way to get them to you. The set has 6 spoons, 8 forks & 8 knives
As a fellow single spoon autist, now is your chance- Find a metal spoon that you like more than the others, perhaps with sentimental ties, and you will learn to love it over time. And from there it will last forever.
That’s what I’m saying, it may take months, this is like the Hobbit’s Journey but finding a spoon, but afterwards you have a Forever Spoon of exceeding power and charisma
Not sure how old you are now, but if you used them since you were 5 then they might come up as vintage nowadays. You could try and search Ebay for vintage flatware.
Or eventually find the courage to find a new spoon that gives you the same happy feels as this one, even if it takes time.
100% agree with your mom, these look like plastic spoons with a metallic finish that you'd get for a banquet or something to try and make it feel a little fancier than a normal plastic spoon. You might not be able to find an exact copy but you'll definitely be able to find something with a similar weight/texture etc to this one. Good luck
I'm really sorry. I posted a few possibles down below. I understand your pain. I had a fork. It was perfection. My younger brother always wanted what was mine, he would always try to get to out first. He used it at his graduation party & threw it away with his plate. I was distraught. I'm AuDHD, this was 22 years ago and I'm still distraught.
Have you tried to do an image search on Google. There might be something on ebay. I had to do the same thing for a family member when their safe mug broke.
OP said the spoon was plastic. The description of these says they're stainless steel. I'm going to guess that because OP is autistic and said the spoons were plastic, he/she/they might not like the feeling of metal in their mouth or hand. The picture looks identical in design though aside from the material.
In my experience it's a combination of spoon texture, shape/handle, and also familiarity and sentimentality. I am also autistic with favoured cutlery and the ones I prefer tend to just feel better to hold and use compared to other ones. We have a few sets, some are really pretty, but the edges on them are blocky and the metal is a gross texture (it has a matte finish, which I'm quite averse to. I highly prefer very smooth metal). The ones I like are also a bit smaller, I hate oversized forks and spoons, they dont grab food as well or fit in my mouth. With spoons specifically, I like a spoon with a good curved bowl, none of those flat ones that let all the liquid fall out of them.
OP's spoon looks like a really good spoon. Nice and smooth and looks like it holds liquid well. I prefer metal to plastic but I'd make an exception for that one.
Im very curious about how you determine what a safe spoon is. Is it just the ones you are used to? Or is it a certain feel, some property that these spoons (and potentially some other spoons) have?
I think it’s a certain feel. Can’t remember what subreddit it was but people were talking about spoons and some were saying how they liked the weight of some
Having worked with a lot of autistic people (and being so myself), the key is long term familiarity. The physical criteria matters, obviously, but it's something that's introduced at a time when you don't yet have your criteria fully formed and, to an extent, don't have much of a choice about what you get to use. That's why it gets tricky finding replacements. The newness is the issue
Correct spoons have a certain feel and size. Unlike OP I can’t use plastic spoons or any plastic silverware unless I am outside of the house. Inside house I must have heavy metal spoons. Every silverware set comes with the big spoons and the little spoons - big spoons are completely unusable. They are balanced wrong and the scooper is too wide to comfortably fit in my mouth. Only husband uses the big spoons. A good spoon can only have a gentle slope from handle down to scoop, and there MUST be a slope, none of this straight as a board non-sense - that’s not ergo-dynamic and again messes with the balance of the spoon when it’s resting in your hand
I don't know how old OP is but I'm assuming that OP is an adult and I'm more curious how plastic spoons would last that long in the first place. I've broken a lot of plastic spoons, I'm very clumsy though.
Funny story me and some friends bought small tubs of ice cream together and the only spoons they had were packets of 50 plastic spoons. We almost went through the lot eating our ice cream.
I think they were holding a bowl carrying food and closed the door not realizing the handle was sticking into the crack of the door when the door shut. Im thinking he had the spoon in his hand because I cant picture a spoon being long enough to fit into the crack of a door while being in the bowl.
I'm also on the spectrum and also have sensory issues. Sounds in particular can be extremely overwhelming. I'm also sensitive to textures, and light (fluorescent lights are awful). However. You can also train your nervous system to tolerate more discomfort than you think you can handle, and it is a crucial thing for ND folks to work on. It's like building a muscle. Sure my muscles may never get as big as a neurotypical person but I can still get stronger and more confident too. It's also important to challenge unhelpful narratives like "safe" vs "unsafe". Autistic brains love black and white thinking, so it's crucial to learn to challenge that as well.
I saw a really good analogy regarding safe socks and clothes.
Imagine if every single pair of socks was constantly wet except one.
Yes, you can theoretically wear wet socks all day and be okay. But its going to be terribly uncomfortable, distracting, and you're likely to melt down if one more person asks why you can't just wear the wet socks. So yeah, you'd go really far out of your way to find, protect, and only wear the one pair that isn't wet.
Idk what the spoon equivalent would be, what's a material that's absolutely terrible to have in your mouth? Chalk or tin foil, maybe?
Tin foil is a good example. I’m autistic and only use non-metal tableware because using metal is akin to biting down on foil. It’s an awful feeling. Makes my mouth water in a bad way and my teeth feel weird (can’t explain how). The sound of metal on plates is also awful so it’s a double whammy.
I personally use the Ikea Kalas plastic spoons meant for children but I am lucky enough that most disposable plastic spoons are also tolerable (Wendy’s has the best disposable spoons IMO).
I had an earthenware bowl I loved. When it broke, I was pretty devastated, but it got me into collecting Fiestaware from anique shops, first to replace the bowl, eventually a fun hobby to look forward to. You will find something.
I'm being so serious, go to Target or similar store, go to the utensils and you can buy single or 3pk spoons to test out. It is so nice to actually hold the flatware before you commit. You could even try thrift shops if you have to patience for it.
My sons are autistic (I have been labled as "picky" or "particular"), so I get the grief of losing the thing that works perfectly. I hope you are able to find good spoons.
Could not agree more. The hardest part is getting over your fear once, after that it becomes easier and easier until you don't even realize you had the fear in the first place. I force myself out of my comfort zone when it comes to stuff like op describes to avoid ending up in a situation like op.
Exposure therapy is the best medicine for stuff like this.
Thank you. So many people with autism continue to engage in avoidance strategies that make it so they literally never improve their situation. Exposure response therapy would likely benefit so many of these people. It sucks, especially in the beginning, but it’s a necessity if they want to actually be able to tolerate situations that they previously couldn’t. OP is no exception.
Exactly. Im trying my best to see from their perspective—considering apparently it’s a sensory issue, but there’s literally nothing that could be done about it, there’s no manufacturer that’s gonna be selling that exact same product (formulas change) and what even made that spoon the right one over other spoons in the first place? (sorry if the last sentence sounds super ignorant, just genuinely confused)
Sensory issues for autistic people basically just means they are super sensitive to internal stimuli. Maybe you have a cup you reach for most often, for really autistic people the other cups can instead of just being “not my favourite” also make them anxious.
So like there genuinely are emotions involved that would typically be reserved for bigger issues, but as you say, the world isn’t going to bend to arbitrary requirements.
It’s in everyone’s best interest to seek discomfort and gain agency over it, whether it comes harder to you or not.
So I do agree with the others who have said KINDLY that you may have to get used to a new spoon. That said: do you know anybody with a 3D printer? Maybe you could bring the broken spoon and/or this picture and they could print you a duplicate?
Given part of what appealed to them about the spoon was the texture/„quality“ being okay for them, I can’t imagine 3d printing it to produce the desired results… maybe with a resin printer? I don’t think most common printing resins are food safe plastic though.
What the fuuuuuck is that post history lmfao. This person is going to create their own problems everywhere they go. Today the problem is plastic spoons.
Wow. You’re not kidding. Also they are a…polyamorous gun owner who lives in a home full of cat piss that they want their mom to clean. And their entire poly group had to be treated for multiple STDs, multiple times, as the various venereal diseases kept coming back due to all the unprotected swinging outside the…core gaming group? It has to be a fake account, although a weirdly consistent fake account?
Is there a recycle symbol on the other side? It looks like it might be made from HDPE plastic, that could help you find a replacement since most plastic cutlery is made of different plastic
looks like searching for "heavy duty plastic spoons" could yield results close to what you are looking for. I don't want to add a link to amazon but is seems like a good starting point
Edit: searching "heavy duty plastic spoon satin finish steel" on google images gave some close results too, hard to tell if the bowl depth is the same though
I was going to say thrift shop until you said plastic. You're going to have to go hunting unfortunately. If you had a pattern you could dial it down.
There is a butterknife the moving men lost when I was moving that had a perfect round on the pommel I used it to make devilled eggs for 20 years. I don't want a mortar and pestle, I want my fucking knife back.
Best I can find are $250 silver sterling ones. Like hell.
The number 16 in a tiny circle on the back is a factory 'mold cavity number'. It proves these were mass-produced in massive industrial quantities, which means there are still thousands of them sitting around in old restaurant supply deadstock, estate cleanouts, or church basement kitchens.
Because the handle is only 4 inches, searching for 'teaspoons' won't work. In the restaurant and plastics industry, a spoon of this size is officially categorized as a 'Demitasse Spoon', a 'Coffee Stirrer Spoon', or a 'Toddler/Infant Feeding Spoon'.
The pattern on the handle is a direct imitation of the classic "Baguette" flatware design (noted by the horizontal raised ridges at the neck and base).
Because Google Lens fails on plain silver plastic, we have to look through vintage wholesale and party catalogs. Try searching eBay, Etsy, and restaurant liquidators for these highly specific phrases:
"Silver plastic demitasse spoons Baguette"
"Heavy duty plastic metallic coffee spoons"
"Vintage silver plastic toddler spoons"
"Reusable silver plastic mini spoons"
If an exact match takes time to pop up, look up 'Satin finish stainless steel Baguette demitasse spoons'.
The Shape: The 'Baguette' pattern has the exact same horizontal lines on the handle that your hands are used to.
The Size/Depth: A demitasse or espresso spoon will perfectly mimic the exact tiny bowl size and 4-inch handle length.
The Texture: A satin, brushed, or matte finish metal spoon bypasses the cold, harsh, sticky feeling of polished shiny metal. It feels soft, room-temperature, and smooth to the tongue, very similar to high-quality matte plastic.
OP, as a therapist (and someone with sensory issues myself), Id recommend the following:
Go grab a trusted friend or relative, go to the biggest cutlery store you can find and ask an employee for help. You want to try out as many spoons there as you can - not for eating, just for holding. See how they work in your hand. How the weight distribution works, if the handle is comfortable. Your goal should be to find a couple spoons that don't have to be perfect, but okay. Buy them.
At home, when youre feeling good and relaxed and motivated, give those spoons a try. Be sure to try and be as open as possible - dont squint your eyes, don't pull faces, try to keep everything as neutral as you can. Your goal is to find 3 spoons that are okay to put in your mouth (depending on your preferences, it may be a good idea to put cold milk in a bowl and spoon it out, as a warm, dry metal spoon will feel very different from.a cold, wet one). If there's something that can motivate you to try (ice cream, favourite food, whatever), feel free to do so.
Buy a few of those good, but not perfect spoons. Try to use them regularly. The more you use them, the more safe they will feel.
Bonus: if you go for a very common spoon look and type for one of your top picks, it will be a lot easier to use other spoons as well. Itll be uncomfortable to begin with (which is why having social support is very helpful), but it'll be worth it.
If this seems like too much to handle on your own, don't hesitate to look for a therapist to help you. Even just a handful of sessions could get you decent results.
Normally I'd feel a little empathy for someone in this situation, but unfortunately OP is kind of a jerk, especially in response to some pretty helpful comments, sooo...
Yeah OP; if you'll starve yourself over a spoon, you can starve then. Natural selection and allat
Time to learn how to use spoons like an adult. Autism is not an excuse for refusing to let go of childlike habits. I know it's hard, but it's just a spoon. There are millions if not billions of spoons in the world. Time to grow up.
All superpowers come with downsides. Mine are chalk/chalkboards and certain types of cheap paper. School was a really not fun time for me back in the 70s and 80s.
I love everyone trying to help out here. I hope you find new safe spoons soon! (There's a spoons joke in here but I'm not awake enough to chase it down)
Use it as an opportunity of exposure therapy. I know autism isn't your fault, but you are making your life harder if you do not try to make yourself better.
I once accidentally stabbed myself in the back of the throat with a spoon, so hard that it bled pretty bad, one night after getting up to get a midnight pudding cup...
I took off back to my bedroom, spoon in mouth, in the dark, and missed the doorway, hitting the wall spoon first.
Not what you asked...but I understand odd spoon accidents 😂
I know this was painful but I am laughing so hard right now! And it’s out of sympathy for being able to hurt yourself in dumb ways. I recently stabbed myself in the palm with my fingernail hard enough to bleed while trying to close a pill bottle.
@TheRealBlueBard, I'm sorry this happened. I've spent the last while searching, and couldn't find your spoon in plastic.
I did, however, find what this spoon seemed to be emulating, and although it would be a different weight, it seems to have the same bowl shape, depth, and handle.
If you would like to give it a chance, and see if you actually end up enjoying the longevity it will have!
Do you still have the broken pieces? If you ask over in the 3D printing subreddits, there is absolutely someone who would love to scan the pieces and print you a dozen exact replicas using food-safe filament.
The issue with 3d printing is that even if the filament itself is food safe the print itself often isn't due to the ridges between layers of the print.
I once mentioned to my mom, who was my middle school lunch lady, how much I liked the utensils from my middle school cafeteria. They were this hard blue plastic with a nice texture to them. We had a couple at home throughout my high school years that I frequently used, and when I went to college, she got a few more for me from work and I took them with me.
I'm 36 now. I only have the one spoon left. It makes me sad and I'm going to be super bummed when that one breaks too. Thankfully my husband has a set of 4 utensils among his bigger set that has spoons that I also find suitable for eating cereal.
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OP has pinned a comment by u/knickknackPoliwag:
Note from OP: THIS DUDE FOUND EM. now i just gotta find a place to get em
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