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Reforming My Picky Eater Past By Trying New Things

July 27, 2010 by Mary

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for details.

“I can’t believe how many things you haven’t tried.”

That’s the comment Laura left me on my food blog regarding my first time eating a plum. Yes, I ate a plum for the first time a few days ago. It was one of the many fruits and vegetables that for the longest time was on my “ew, I’m not eating that” list.

adriatic fig

I’ve probably mentioned it a few times here, but it bares repeating: I used to be a really picky eater. A really, really, unbelievably picky eater. My path to obesity was paved with bland processed food and few vegetables and fruits. The vegetables my mother served with dinner rarely made it to my stomach and only went down after much protesting.

As a child I somehow decided certain foods were gross while others were acceptable. I honestly can’t recall exactly how those decisions were made but it went something like this: anything with sugar or that’s been deep fried is good and anything that’s a fruit or vegetable or weird meat is bad.  Those decisions I made at a early age in a no doubt sugar induced frenzy of excitement were ideas that stuck with me for a long time. In high school they had the most strength when I had both the freedom to choose my food and the ability to make the wrong choices that led to severe obesity. That continued until my first year of college where I finally decided to lose weight and literally forced myself to eat salads.

I struggled with compulsive eating and binge eating during college but at the same time I lost weight by eating more vegetables and salads. Even when I finally started eating these things by “choice” I stuck to a very boring and limited selection. Most vegetables were still classified as “yucky” and never made it to my plate. New vegetables and fruits that I didn’t recognize didn’t even stand a chance. I stuck to a very small selection of things like iceberg lettuce, carrots, and peas.

brussel sprouts

In the past year, especially since starting my food blog, I’ve tried a lot of things I never even knew existed and many things that once seemed to me like the most disgusting things ever. For example, last night I ate brussel sprouts for the first time. My mom made them once when we were kids because she loves to eat them, but I refused to even try one. Now as a much wiser, open and educated adult I’ve discovered that I actually like them.

I’m so glad I’m not a picky eater any more.

I’ve come a long way since I first started forcing myself to eat vegetables. I will now try everything at least once and I like most fruits and vegetables. There are some things I still don’t like. Raw tomatoes, mushrooms, and pickles being the main offenders. But I no longer write off foods before trying them like I did as a child. I’m a much more adventurous eater these days.

Despite my new(ish) healthy eating habits, I still haven’t tried a lot of things. Like plums and brussel sprouts, there are many other foods I’ve never had the opportunity to try because of my picky eating past. I now want to try everything and have decided to make the one of the missions of my food blog.

The mission is simple – try as many different fruits and vegetables as possible. I figure this is as far removed a goal from the formerly picky eater that I can get. The longest list of vegetables I could find was on wikipedia: list of culinary vegetables. Most other lists online only include the most commonly eaten ones. Similar is the list of culinary fruits. These two lists will be my guide and I will slowly cross off vegetables and fruits for as long as I can. They say you need to eat more fruits and vegetables, so I might as well be adventurous in my choices. ;)

Do you try to eat fruits and vegetables you’ve never tried before or do you stick to what you know? Are there any that you haven’t tried but want to?

Filed Under: Food Tagged With: diet, eating habits, food, fruit, picky eating, vegetables


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Comments

  1. Marilou @ Mostly Healthy says

    July 27, 2010 at 10:29 am

    For every fruit or vegetables, I think there is a way to prepare it to make it good. I can’t do raw mushrooms, I just can’t. But from a can? I love it … how weird?

    I was a picky eater when I was younger, but not really towards fruits and veggies. It’s really not what made me an obese person, but looking back it’s the amount of it I ate compared to carbs and proteins.

    It’s all a question of balance. I love to try new things, as well as new fruits ans veggies. I’m glad you’ve overcomed you’re picky manners and are willing to try more new things :)

    Way to go!

    • Mary says

      July 27, 2010 at 10:56 am

      Mushrooms in a can? That just sounds gross to me. I’m not a fan of much that comes in a can besides tuna. ;)

  2. Morgan says

    July 27, 2010 at 10:32 am

    I love fruits and vegetables (not that you would know that by the complete lack of them in my diet lately) and love to try new kinds. I can’t think of any at the moment that I have specifically wanted to try, but anything that I come across in that arena I will always taste. Weird meats and things…not so much.

  3. zenlizzie says

    July 27, 2010 at 10:32 am

    I was a very picky eater growing up too. I hardly ate any vegetables, and the ones I did eat were covered in salad dressing or cheese. It wasn’t until I went to college and started cooking for myself that I started easing my way into vegetable eating. It started with less healthy options like, fried zucchini, but once I got over the “yuck, vegetables!” stigma, I started preparing them with less stuff and I found out I really liked them and I could eat a lot for not so many calories. (This was very important at that time.)
    Even my mom comments now about how it is so funny how much I love vegetables since I would never eat them growing up.

    • Mary says

      July 27, 2010 at 10:58 am

      Eating veggies fried is actually a good way to ease into it. You realize it’s not so bad and eventually can transition to the real thing. Sometimes it’s just baby steps in the beginning.

      My mom thinks it’s funny too. She was telling me about how she only made brussel sprouts once and we refused to eat them and now I like them. Hehe.

  4. Diane says

    July 27, 2010 at 10:34 am

    I, too used to eat like you did. The veggies I would actually eat consisted on corn and carrots only. Now, I am a LOT more adventurous. Some veggies I did not like before, I love but there are some that are still not my not favourite list. I will eat them though but don’t go out of my way to do so.
    Every time I hit the farmer’s market, I am trying to buy something that I haven’t tried yet whether it be a fruit or a veggie. I have only gone twice so far this summer but so far I have tried a dragon fruit and an eggplant. Loved the eggplant but the dragon fruit, not so much. Too bland. I have also tried pluots (which I LOVE) and lychee nuts (which I don’t love) and have tried broccoflower which was actually pretty tasty.

  5. Camevil says

    July 27, 2010 at 10:36 am

    I saw a dragon fruit at our local grocer. I’m frightened, repulsed and intrigued at the same time.

  6. Lisa @ I'm an Okie says

    July 27, 2010 at 10:48 am

    my childhood was much like yours. The closest thing to veggies I ate was corn–and that’s pretty much it!

  7. Sagan says

    July 27, 2010 at 11:08 am

    I used to be a super picky eater. I would only eat white bread, I never ate onions… I still ate lots of fruits and veg, but only very specific ones. These days, I’m willing to try ANYTHING :D

    … I still don’t like TONS of onions in my food, and I’m not a big avocado or zucchini fan, but I like to try as many new things as possible.

    • Mary says

      July 27, 2010 at 1:16 pm

      Yeah I used to only eat white bread and now I won’t eat it at all! It’s strange how your food habits will change, especially if you are trying to be healthy. ;)

  8. Karen@WaistingTime says

    July 27, 2010 at 11:09 am

    I soooo keep saying I am going to try brussel sprouts! I have been much like you before and am now also trying to branch out. I discovered that I like a lot more veggies roasted than I like other ways. Still to try – kale.

    • Mary says

      July 27, 2010 at 1:16 pm

      I LOVE KALE!

  9. Rachel says

    July 27, 2010 at 11:24 am

    I have a feeling that you’re going to inspire a lot of people to try new (and exciting?) fruits and veggies. Including me. :)

  10. Cynthia (It All Changes) says

    July 27, 2010 at 11:33 am

    I used to be really picky. Slowly trying new foods was fun. It has changed my world.

  11. Janet says

    July 27, 2010 at 11:36 am

    I was a terribly picky eater as a child, and I’ve gotten much less so. I still don’t eat mushrooms though!

    I found a great recipe for “roasted” brussel sprouts, where you take fresh ones, toss them with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, then spread them on a cookie sheet and bake. Super yummy!

    • Melissa says

      July 27, 2010 at 4:55 pm

      I would HIGHLY recommend roasted brussels sprouts as opposed to steamed or boiled. WAY yummy. Here is my favorite recipe from 101 Cookbooks:
      http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/goldencrusted-brussels-sprouts-recipe.html
      Super easy and delish!

  12. Lori (Finding Radiance) says

    July 27, 2010 at 12:09 pm

    I was the same way as you. So incredibly picky. I ate carrots and broccoli and those were the only veggies I ate for years and years.

    I finally realized that preparation of those things really makes a difference. Now I am willing to try lots of different veggies. I don’t like them all, but at least I tried and didn’t like instead of using the blanket “I hate veggies.”

  13. Ed says

    July 27, 2010 at 12:33 pm

    I’m not a fan of mushrooms either. Or olives. I try each semi-regularly thinking that maybe this time it will be delicious.
    I eat a wide variety of fruits, but I need to expand my vegetable palate…especially during the summer. But I won’t lie, I can’t wait for fall squash!

  14. Kada says

    July 27, 2010 at 12:54 pm

    I’ve never been a picky eater, but I understand exactly how excited you feel when discovering a food you thought you loathed turned out to be pretty awesome! Here’s the post I wrote about a similar experience, if you’re interested. :) http://healthykada.blogspot.com/2008/09/try-try-and-try-again.html

  15. janedog says

    July 27, 2010 at 1:01 pm

    Thanks for digging up that wiki list of vegetables, that’s a great checklist! Some veggies I just don’t like, including raw tomatoes like you…and I only recently stopped hating squash. I don’t think I’ll ever love it, but I’ll eat it. I want to try kale and endive…I know I’ve had kale before but it was mixed in with a soup and I didn’t taste it. In terms of fruit I’ve been fascinated by the pawpaw (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawpaw) which is a creamy fruit native to the eastern half of the US. I’m going to visit a friend in Indiana and I want to see if I can buy any back there!

  16. Tara says

    July 27, 2010 at 1:06 pm

    Wow – you could basically be writing down my past eating behaiviours! I was so picky about fruits and veggies to, but would eat all manner of junky crap without giving a though to what was in it.

    I read something that suggested that picky eating was a form of OCD, something that I’ve thought a lot about and now completely believe. Eating strange food was something that was very frightening for me and I’m not quite sure why.

    Meanwhile, I think you should do a fruits and veggies challenge using that list – I would be in! Even if you don’t start a challenge, I’m going to do the same thing as you – try to try everything on that list.

  17. Kendra says

    July 27, 2010 at 1:14 pm

    Awesome win for Brussels Sprouts! They are pretty much my favorite food so I love hearing when other people like them too.

    I’ve spent the last few years teaching myself to like things I didn’t and things I wouldn’t even touch (cottage cheese).

    I’m still working on onions.

  18. Alexia says

    July 27, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    have you tried a mango?

    • Mary says

      July 27, 2010 at 3:05 pm

      Yes, I love mango!

  19. Carina says

    July 27, 2010 at 1:59 pm

    I was kind of picky when I was little. I sometimes idly wonder (being child-free) what is the best way to raise kids. To let them refuse foods they decide they don’t like and cater to them, or to enforce some kind of clean-plate or 5 bite rule or something. When I grew up I didn’t like lima beans but if that was for dinner, I had to sit at the table until they were gone or until bedtime, and if I waited until bedtime, I had lima beans waiting for me at breakfast. But my parents cooked well and ate a wide variety of things (and served reasonable portions), so I think overall their strategy worked well since I’ve eaten most fruits or veggies fairly regularly and am pretty open about what I eat. But you’re right about raw tomatoes! I let my husband talk me into trying one in Italy at his family’s house. Straight out of the garden that morning and he said it tasted so different from tomatoes at home. I fell for it and wanted to gag. If anything, it tasted MORE like a raw tomato, which is not a good thing in my book! I also don’t like cucumbers unless they’re in small quantities in tzitziki sauce.

  20. Jessey says

    July 27, 2010 at 2:43 pm

    Fruits for the most part I will eat anything, except melon – all kinds. I wish I liked them. I love the texture. But don’t like the taste.

    Vegetables, not so much. I am not as picky as my husband (he hates anything and all mushroom). But I for the most part eat the normal types – salad veggies as I call them. Eggplant, beets, cauliflower, brussel sprouts are all things I detested as a child and have not gotten around to trying again. Squash and zucchini are so-so – we grill them so they are yummy, but it’s the garlic sauce (ladden with oil) that helps to make them good.

  21. Pubsgal says

    July 27, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    That’s so funny! I started reading your food blog during your visit with Susan, and saw all the cool foods you got to try. I would never have known that you had once-upon-a-time been picky about trying new foods.

    I can’t say that I was a picky eater, and I’ve always loved (and eaten) a pretty wide variety of fruits and veggies. (That’s probably from having a health-nut mom. :-) Sadly, that didn’t stop me from getting obese, but getting back to my veggie-loving roots has helped me tremendously on my way back down the scale.

    Don’t know if you do much grilling, but that’s a tasty way to make veggies, too. We usually cut up ones we like, marinate them in some Italian dressing, thread on a shish-kabob skewer, and grill until they are done.

    Hmmm…veggie I’d like to try? I think fiddleheads. I’ve never seen them around here (Northern California), but I’ve read about how tasty they are.

    P.S. Brussel sprouts are my favorite veggie!

  22. Heather Lerminiaux says

    July 27, 2010 at 2:58 pm

    Please try jicama ~ it is something like a combination of an apple and pear in flavor but crunchy like a carrot. It is a root vegetable and doesn’t look appealing, but once you peel off the tough outer layer you will find a white veggie that has a texture similar to a water chestnut. SOOOO yummy.

    Heather

    • Mary says

      July 27, 2010 at 3:03 pm

      I actually tried jicama when I was in San Francisco! It’s really yummy. It was a nice substitute for corn chips with guacamole. :)

  23. merri says

    July 27, 2010 at 4:56 pm

    I have known a lot of picky eaters. One of my ex best friends would only have the plainest food if we went out to eat. One of my current friends was nearly as bad, but as he’s gotten older, he’s gotten somewhat better (surprising me when he visited and wanted to go eat SUSHI wow). My sister is a vegetarian who doesn’t like veggies. Its true. Theres only a few stock things she’s ever wanted to eat. Mainly involving processed stuff, pasta, and lots of chocolate. Lol. I’m glad youre breaking out of your food shell! I love trying new things. Ive also gotten less picky as I get older, variety wise (though more picky, healthywise) but I was always, & still am, the one to try new foods when we went places. Living with a picky father and sister limited our home food. I would try any fruit or veggie that you put in front of me. I bet theres a lot I still have not tried though. I cant think of anything offhand that ive been wanting to try, otherwise, id have tried it, but I’ll def try anything im not allergic to that I can put in my mouth :)

  24. Angela (the diet book junkie) says

    July 27, 2010 at 6:22 pm

    that’s awesome, Mary,picky eating can be a hard habit to break! as for me, hmm….i think i enjoy all fruits and vegestables (except beets. something about the smell..) i highly recommend roasted pumpkin, espeically on a pizza :)

  25. Andrea@WellnessNotes says

    July 27, 2010 at 6:32 pm

    I’m pretty adventurous when it comes to food, including fruits and veggies. I actually love a wide variety of veggies but don’t “have to have” fruit. But I don’t dislike it. It’s just that I have to “remind” myself to eat it… BTW, my favorite food in the world are raw tomatoes… how can you not love them? ;)

  26. Nicole @ LaughOutLoud says

    July 27, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    Sigh… I’m picky too ;) I should TOTALLY get better!

  27. Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear says

    July 28, 2010 at 12:25 am

    I’m pretty adventurous when it comes to food – there are almost no food I would not try (at least once) :)

    ps. I’m surprised that there are so many people who don’t like raw tomatoes – I just wrote about it a post!

  28. Diana @ frontyardfoodie says

    July 28, 2010 at 6:38 am

    Yay for trying new things! It’s so awesome to discover the world of fruits and veggies. I can’t wait to hear about all the things you’re going to try!

  29. Hope says

    July 28, 2010 at 8:17 am

    I’m still a pretty picky eater, and I stick to what I know with veggies, and eat mostly fruit, which is how I lost the weight. Sometimes when I have the desire to branch out with veggies, I do, and then I move on.

    I’ve definitely given thought the the roasted brussel sprouts though. You should let us know how they taste!

  30. Mrs. O says

    July 28, 2010 at 9:06 am

    Love your blog, and the idea to be trying foods you “thought” you didn’t like. This would be a great way to find more healthy foods that you like and can incorporate to shake things up! Hope you’ll come visit my blog. Would love a weight loss buddy for this journey!

    Mrs. O

Trackbacks

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