Picky Eater
Definition - A person that is adverse to a wide variety of foods; additionally picky eaters often display an unwillingness to try new foods, or any food that contains even a small amount of a food they do not like.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Picky%20Eater
My name is Melissa and I am a picky eater. Well sometimes. Oh well work in progress. For as far back as I can remember I have always been very cautious of the food I eat. I tend to be hesitant in trying new foods as I am over concerned of how it might taste. In addition the presentation may be off which then turns me off and I just don't eat it.
Growing up my Mom was the head chef in my house (still is and the best there is). The food was usually prepared with love and pride as my Mommy can cook good (better than good actually !!). Despite that I realise (now) that I was bit of a challenge growing up in terms of what I would eat, when I would eat it and how often could she give it to me to eat. Still she forged on and made accommodations to suit my palate (yes mi know - spoil, spoil, spoil - hate me or love me I'm still awesome). Sometimes the "pickiness" would get to her and she'd let me know in no uncertain terms that she wasn't cooking anything else and that I would have to eat what was prepared. I still didn't eat it. Well I'd pick at it instead. Push it around my plate if necessary to give the impression that I had tried it.
Other times she would bribe me or convince me that food that I didn't like was somehow different this time and that I should give it a shot. Lots of times it worked. Lots of times it didn't. I remember one particular food/meal and the bribe that followed to get me to eat it. It was soup. Chicken soup I believe. Now my Mommy cooked soup every Saturday - rain or shine - soup was being cooked. Most times I'd barely taste cause I didn't like it and I wasn't gonna eat it. I am not sure why I didn't like it. I just knew that I didn't.
Quite a few of my friends have heard me tell this story but it still rings true and funny for me. Most of my friends know that I have a keen interest in "long hair." I always say that I want my hair to reach mi knee - that's how bad I want it (lol). Anyhow my natural hair (cause mi did young right) at time was pretty short and I wasn't fond of it. I could speak negatively of my hair and I used to but I've learnt to be grateful for every strand I've got. I digress (clears throat) and continue.
So yes I wanted the "long hair" and my Mom knew this and used it against me to get me to eat the darn soup!! My Mom told me that if I drank soup every Saturday without complaint my hair would grow. At first I don't think I bought it (at least I hope I didn't - I pray I wasn't that gullible). And I hope I thought about it before I committed to it. Well I committed to it all right and I drank that soup every Saturday without fail and complaint. The results (you ask) - the hair didn't grow but I loooooovvvee soup now especially chicken soup. Yum Yum!! Lol!!
There were other foods that were hated on sight or smell. This could have been due to the texture, colour, etc. It didn't matter how she fixed I wasn't gonna eat it. The list was long and for awhile I stuck to the basics. Sometimes I would have been prodded to try new stuff and sometimes I would have to be bribed (once again) into tasting in same. In that instance I would have just swallowed quickly without allowing the food to settle too much on my taste buds. I was then asked, "How it taste? Can eat, don't?" My response would have been in the negative with a made up face.
Other times she would bribe me or convince me that food that I didn't like was somehow different this time and that I should give it a shot. Lots of times it worked. Lots of times it didn't. I remember one particular food/meal and the bribe that followed to get me to eat it. It was soup. Chicken soup I believe. Now my Mommy cooked soup every Saturday - rain or shine - soup was being cooked. Most times I'd barely taste cause I didn't like it and I wasn't gonna eat it. I am not sure why I didn't like it. I just knew that I didn't.
Quite a few of my friends have heard me tell this story but it still rings true and funny for me. Most of my friends know that I have a keen interest in "long hair." I always say that I want my hair to reach mi knee - that's how bad I want it (lol). Anyhow my natural hair (cause mi did young right) at time was pretty short and I wasn't fond of it. I could speak negatively of my hair and I used to but I've learnt to be grateful for every strand I've got. I digress (clears throat) and continue.
So yes I wanted the "long hair" and my Mom knew this and used it against me to get me to eat the darn soup!! My Mom told me that if I drank soup every Saturday without complaint my hair would grow. At first I don't think I bought it (at least I hope I didn't - I pray I wasn't that gullible). And I hope I thought about it before I committed to it. Well I committed to it all right and I drank that soup every Saturday without fail and complaint. The results (you ask) - the hair didn't grow but I loooooovvvee soup now especially chicken soup. Yum Yum!! Lol!!
There were other foods that were hated on sight or smell. This could have been due to the texture, colour, etc. It didn't matter how she fixed I wasn't gonna eat it. The list was long and for awhile I stuck to the basics. Sometimes I would have been prodded to try new stuff and sometimes I would have to be bribed (once again) into tasting in same. In that instance I would have just swallowed quickly without allowing the food to settle too much on my taste buds. I was then asked, "How it taste? Can eat, don't?" My response would have been in the negative with a made up face.
Well I'm pleased to say that I've gotten older and wiser (hopefully :)) and a lot more daring (at least for me) in regards to what I will or won't try. There are some foods that I have definitely tried and to an extent regret not taking the time to try them before.
When I decided to start to eat healthier I found that often times the foods I would initially reject were on the list of foods I wouldn't even try. This journey of life (and eating better) has definitely taught me not to be so hard and fast with "food" and give it a taste once in awhile. I will admit that I'm not gonna eat everything and I still will "pick" but for the most part I think I have improved.
My suggestions to adult picky eaters (cause I know you are out there):
When I decided to start to eat healthier I found that often times the foods I would initially reject were on the list of foods I wouldn't even try. This journey of life (and eating better) has definitely taught me not to be so hard and fast with "food" and give it a taste once in awhile. I will admit that I'm not gonna eat everything and I still will "pick" but for the most part I think I have improved.
My suggestions to adult picky eaters (cause I know you are out there):
- Approach the unfamiliar food with an open mind. Don't rule out the food you haven't tried especially if the presentation is top notch. Give it a try!
- Spices are essential and truly can change the flavour of a previously disliked food. Trust me on this.
- Don't be afraid to experiment and make the food more appealing to your palate. Incorporate foods you're not fond of with foods that you like. Slides down better and is more appealing to eat.
- Lastly if you tried the food and you still don't like it - don't give up. Move on and try something else. You will find something that sticks.
Happy picking, trying and eating!
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