I’ve been a picky eater for as long as I can remember. Though the range of foods I will eagerly eat has expanded over the years. There is still a long list of things I will not touch, at least not without suspicion.
There are a lot of foods I actively avoid, mostly meats and dishes with an excessive amount of ingredients that I’m not sure where they came from. I am grateful that my food-phobia does not extend to vegetables—except for canned green beans, yuck. Otherwise I would have been a very malnourished child.
When you’re a picky eater, every meal feels like an obstacle course. You’re lucky if you make it out with your ego intact. Because picky eaters get picked on so much, I want to explain what goes through our heads. On behalf of myself and the other picky eaters who never grew out of it, here’s what we wish other people understood.
We’re Not Trying to Seem Rude
Most of the time, picky eaters aren’t trying to insult people by not eating the food they prepare. In fact, most of the time, we’re trying really hard to be polite.
Going to a social event where there’s nothing I’m comfortable eating is frustrating, not because I expect anyone to accommodate me, but because I don’t appreciate all the questions I get when I either choose not to eat or clearly eat slowly and with purpose. I love eating and spending time with friends and family, but it’s so irritating to have other people stare at me while I try to eat.
This isn’t to say we don’t appreciate all the time spent preparing food. We really do. That’s why picky eaters like me make do with what’s available by taking what we like and leaving the other stuff for people who will actually enjoy it.
Seriously, it’s nothing personal. It’s just what our bodies want us to put in our mouths.
Please Don’t Tell Us to Order off the Kids’ Menu
About one-quarter of kids are picky eaters, and many of those kids will grow out of their food aversions later in life. But a few of them, like me, will stay picky for possibly the rest of their lives. Believe it or not, this is not something that we choose to do.
One thing that picky eaters really don’t like is getting compared to children. It makes us feel guilty and inadequate, especially if food was a point of contention during our childhoods. Unfortunately, because most picky eaters are kids, society tends to expect that adults will grow out of their picky eating habits easily. People sometimes see adults who don’t manage this as childish, whiny or selfish and treat them accordingly.
However, some people just have lower tolerances for certain textures and flavors. In some cases, pickiness is even related to a Sensory Processing Disorder, which is totally out of the person’s control. Most maturing picky eaters work hard to figure out how to navigate this reality without seeming immature.
We Know What We Like
Sometimes it’s difficult to navigate life as a picky eater without feeling embarrassed or frustrated with yourself. But there are some perks too. When you know the foods you like, picking a meal often becomes easier and sometimes even something to look forward to.
While everyone else is perusing the menu at a restaurant, we’re sitting back with our drinks because we’re having the usual. When we go to the grocery store, we know exactly which foods and brands of those foods to buy. And, when we’re ready to try something new, and we like it, it’s a triumph as well as a great meal.
Though we may have a more limited palate than some people, picky eaters like me know what we like, and sometimes that makes life a little bit easier.
Clearing up the Phenomenon
I am a picky eater and will most likely stay that way. But I’ve learned to live with it. Hopefully, these points helped clear a few things up.
If you’re a picky eater too, I wish you good luck understanding and, eating lots of your favorite foods.
Featured image via Marvin Meyer on Unsplash
