Confessions Of A Picky Eater

I know I talk a lot of foodie game, but I’m about to get real.

Confession: Until a few years ago, I was the PICKIEST eater.

I wasn’t your average kid who goes through a phase for a while and then gets over it. I would ONLY eat chicken caesar salads for about 5 years. Literally. No joke.

In high school, I got a little better. I got over my fear of eggs (scrambled, made into an omelette, etc.)..WOOHOO!

When I was living in Israel I was determined to try everything I wasn’t allergic to (and that was a lot considering I have a sesame seed allergy!). Then I became a vegan (for a hot second)…then a vegetarian…and now I’m a vegetarian who eats fish (pescatarian for you people who like fancy labels).

I got over my fear of sushi…although I still don’t go crazy with raw fish.

I’ve tried sea urchin (sdjfksdjfodsj, never again).

I’ve expanded my vegetable selection — helloooo mushrooms & beets!

(I know, can you believe I didn’t always love all vegetables?!?…gasp!)

And now I can admit when I don’t “like” something because I’m afraid to try it…

…baby steps people!!!!! 

So I empathize with your kids (Is that sad for someone in their mid-twenties??). I’m that annoying girlfriend/sister/daughter who has “food rules” (but I am NOT the food police!).

But give me a break….I’ve had limitations my entire life (thank you, food allergies), so I’m always careful when trying something new, and reasonably (I think!!), hesitant at times.

Now that you’ve heard my confessions of a picky eater, here are my tips to increase variety in the diet of the picky eater in your life….

*8* times a charm! 

I NEVER liked BEETS. I thought they were slimy, staining, and too sweet for a salad. But then I was FORCED to roast them in my food science lab last semester. DE-LI-CIOUS! Now, they’re a salad staple…and make quinoa PINK!…LOVE EM!!!

Get over yourself

My fear of sushi was mostly in my head. Once I opened up to trying something with a different texture I got past my own fear and now I’m no longer a hater! (Trust me, it’s much easier socially too!)

Fake it til you make it

If you know a food is good for you and you WANT to like it, try mixing it with another food. The best example is my boyfriend’s aversion to KALE. As trendy as he may be, he did not hop on board with this fad. That was until he tried my KALE BALLS. I didn’t serve him a kale salad, but used kale in a delicious recipe with tons of other flavors. Now he’s open to trying other recipes that include kale! WIN!

Up next? Kale caesar salad!

Have it YOUR way 

Who says you have to prepare a food the way it’s typically consumed? Try a food the way YOU want to eat it!

Someone I know ALSO has an adversion to QUINOA. NOT ANYMORE!!! I made my Greek Quinoa Salad and it was a GAME. CHANGER!