LaurieDawn, you are so welcome!
It's something only those with the condition understand, pretty much. I'm in my 50s and I still order my burgers plain!
I can do barbecue sauce, that's my one condiment, and I am okay with a piece of lettuce if it comes with it (woo hoo, my vegetable for the day, LOL!). So I can order a plain burger, cheeseburger or bacon cheeseburger and a cup of BBQ, and dress it myself.
Soup - not a fan, for the reasons you delineated. To me chicken noodle soup should contain chicken + noodles. Vegetable soup and similar, just nope. Like you, I watch in wonder as people shovel in spoonfuls without any inspection of contents and are obviously enjoying it. Chunky sauces are out as well.
Vegetables themselves are something I can come to terms with if left to my own devices. I might nibble raw carrots or some lettuce and spinach in a salad. Spinach alfredo pizza or pasta is okay if it's not too high a percentage of spinach. Some of these things though are obviously high in the fattening components so I'd have to have small portions.
That's going to be one of my big things in this new way of eating (I don't like the word "diet" - I "dieted" from age 9, messed up my metabolism, and thinking "I'm on a diet" messes with my head). Portion control - that I can do, and have started to do. Being open to including a bit more of the things I can eat but don't gravitate toward is another. I plan to compile a blog post about this whole transition soon.
So glad that my post earlier today connected with a fellow picky eater so quickly! #thestruggleisreal Hang in there!