Food dislikes-as guest, but will politely eat

[shootingstar]

Canadian thxgiving is this weekend. Either we are eating somewhere or we are hosting a meal :)
Just wondering, what food or types of food dishes do you dislike but can politely eat if offered as a guest?

And food or type of food dishes you absolutely will not touch and why? (of course give your medical reasons, if applicable..)

___________________
For moi:
1. Dislike/not thrilled alot, but will politely eat as a guest:

Deep fried food --ie. fish, whatever. Yea, I'll have a doughnut occasionally. No, I'm not that keen on tempura, no matter how lovely. Very few types of deep fried Asian egg rolls excite me. I consider deep-frying fresh seafood, almost blasephemous. If it's fresh, why cover up the taste? Cook it in a way so it's more naked in taste/enhances it's original freshness.

2. Eithopian bread- injuera. Don't know why but I've never been keen on this.

3. Very sweet, heavy East Indian sweets (but love their savoury dishes!).

4. Organ meats-- tripe, heart, brain, stomach.

5. Probably lots of other stuff worldwide I haven't tried yet. :p

6. Overly sweetened sauces, chutneys, etc. for ...savoury dishes.


Will not touch:
Sea cucumber. (I enjoy a broad range of gelatinous-mouth feel dishes. After all, soft tofu dishes, etc. falls in this category. But sea cucumber for me, is stretching it. Have had it twice.)

I have to think about this more. Probably forgetting alot of culinary delights I've eaten so far in this short life.

[Eden]

I'll try almost anything once!

I don't drink beer - don't care for it at all. If really pressed to taste something that is supposedly really good beer, I'll take a sip, but I have yet to find one that I think is drinkable and I'd never be able to gag down a whole glass. I think it has a *nasty* aftertaste.
Most fish roes, green bell peppers and arugala are on my will politely eat, but really rather not have list. I would likely refuse a whole stuffed pepper, but can handle it if its in another dish.

Sea cucumber? I've had it prepared really wonderfully at a sushi bar. The way Yoshi does it, I wouldn't really call it gelatinous - its even a bit crisp. Its a real treat when he has it.

[shootingstar]

I'll try almost anything once!

I don't drink beer - don't care for it at all. If really pressed to taste something that is supposedly really good beer, I'll take a sip, but I have yet to find one that I think is drinkable and I'd never be able to gag down a whole glass. I think it has a *nasty* aftertaste.
Most fish roes, green bell peppers and arugala are on my will politely eat, but really rather not have list. I would likely refuse a whole stuffed pepper, but can handle it if its in another dish.

Sea cucumber? I've had it prepared really wonderfully at a sushi bar. The way Yoshi does it, I wouldn't really call it gelatinous - its even a bit crisp. Its a real treat when he has it.

I forgot about my disinterest in beer....probably because I haven't drank any beer in past...um 2 decades! :rolleyes: Last time I had beer, my reaction was: I don't get it. What's so great about this? My dearie, who is German..doesn't care for beer. He probably drank it..30 years ago.

I haven't had enough stuffed peppers to dislike...'cause I just don't encounter them when friends serve a home-cooked meal. Nor would I order in restaurant. Sounds hum-drum..well, to me.

Good, that you have found a place for a better way of preparing sea cucumber.

[Sadie]

Coffee. Smells great, but tastes nasty. I don't eat red meat anymore either, so that's hard to pick around at times.

[Eden]

ah - and I don't care so much for moldy style cheeses.... blue cheese, stilton, some of the really ripe french cheeses don't hold too much interest for me. I do enjoy brie, camenbert etc - if they aren't too alive.... but being such a high fat food I don't eat too much cheese anyway.

Other smelly things don't bother me so much - I actually like natto, which apparently makes me a highly unusual caucasian.... I've never had fermented tofu though, nor have I ever had durian, though I am terribly curious after hearing the incredible stories about it.

[shootingstar]

ah - and I don't care so much for moldy style cheeses.... blue cheese, stilton, some of the really ripe french cheeses don't hold too much interest for me. I do enjoy brie, camenbert etc - if they aren't too alive.... but being such a high fat food I don't eat too much cheese anyway.

Other smelly things don't bother me so much - I actually like natto, which apparently makes me a highly unusual caucasian.... I've never had fermented tofu though, nor have I ever had durian, though I am terribly curious after hearing the incredible stories about it.

I really enjoy the strong, moldy cheeses...as long as they aren't too salty. We have it occasionally as a "treat" since the fat content is high.

Yes, I like fermented tofu....it's a condiment for those, unfamiliar with it. I did have it as a child. You put a tiny dab on certain cooked meat dishes, etc. Very salty.

Strangely, but I still haven't had fresh durian yet. We don't have a sharp knife at home..to cut through that tough husk. I'll get there...but have had durian ice cream..and can't remember whatever else.

My body cannot tolerate true capucinno, espresso, Greek or Turkish coffees. But strangely, I can drink alot of regular strong coffee over several hrs.

[martinkap]

Good topic. I have always struggled with my food dislikes while visiting anyone because I will not touch or eat under any circumstances:

water melon
strawberries


The following items I eat with really a lot of hesitation:

chocolate and chocolate cakes ... unless it is a white chocolate - I can definitely eat that one :)
milk based ice cream - that is just nasty stuff but I can swallow it
any overly sweet desert (most US desserts) It makes my stomach curl just to think of one
raisins
champain


Of course, I am not fan of brains (I do eat them though - just cannot really analyze it too much), and any kinds of insects or weird food. But above dislikes even though very accomodatable in the daily life, makes my 'guest life' quite hard. And talk about trying to explain to a new BF that I really think it is nice that he bought champain and strawberries dipped in chocolate but that I am not really going to touch any of it ... :)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'll eat just about everything considered to be 'normal' food (meaning no fried beetle larvae etc), except I just choose to not eat tofu or beef. (funny, those two things seem like opposites, don't they?- never realized that til now)

[TsPoet]

Curry, not only will I not eat it, I won't stay in the same room with it. The smell is just over the top bad.
I don't like onions, bell peppers (actually, I wont' eat them, but I will pick them out of food as politely as possible).
I have eaten things such as tripe, don't need to do that again.
One of my biggest disappointments in life is that I turned down fried caterpillars when they were offered to be in Mbare. They are their version of french fries and the woman who offered them was being nice to me. I wish I'd tried one.

[MomOnBike]

Hmmm, interesting question.

Please don't feed me bananas. Or sweet potatoes, especially those fixed with marshmallows melted on top (shudder). I won't make a big deal of it at the table, I'll just "forget" to put them on my plate.

I will make a big deal of Campbell's tomato soup. IT WILL NOT PASS MY LIPS!!! For that matter, most commercial tomato-based products (spagetti sauce, etc.) are not fit for human consumption IM(insufficiently)HO.

As a matter of principle I don't eat veal, or endangered species - stuff like that.

I'm sure there is more, but I can't think of anything else right now. Generally, I just eat what you put in front of me, and it shows.

[Jolt]

Things I'm not thrilled with but can politely tolerate: tofu (don't really like the texture), a lot of fried foods, cakes with super-sweet frosting, tuna (I really llike most fish, but tuna not so much for some reason)

Things I won't touch because they make me want to hurl: any stinky cheese (even feta qualifies as far as I'm concerned), salads/sandwiches with mayonnaise

Not much experience with "weird" things like organ meats etc. so not sure what my reaction would be to those kinds of things. Would probably try a small amount if it doesn't seem too gross.

[shootingstar]

Hmmm, interesting question.

Please don't feed me bananas. Or sweet potatoes, especially those fixed with marshmallows melted on top (shudder).

One of my nieces (she is only 18 months old) is allergic to bananas.
Sweet potatoes & melted marshmallows....I see. Sounds like something originally to tempt..children? Combo just sounds like bad fusion. :confused:

I will eat it, but not necessarily be thrilled: Spam. It astounded me that it is popular ...in Hawaii as an ingredient in some dishes. I didn't want to try anything with it when we were vacationing in Hawaii. Yes, I know the history behind it...but to me, a sad abomination for a cultural food cuisine that was more tropical produce based. Even used in some sushi...seriously...I support nouveau fusion cooking, but there are limits.

Maybe someone can explain pulled pork meat for me it terms of what constitutes good pulled pork. Again I'll eat it without complaint if served...just as I did as a child when mother pulled apart some cheaper pork cuts and "pulled" the meat off. Back then, I ate the meat in a bored way. This is the sort of memory I associate with "pulled pork"= tough poor times.

[blackhillsbiker]

I don't like candied yams/sweet potatoes (although I love them just baked). I hate giblets in gravy or otherwise. I hate melon. Even watermelon. Usually I just quietly don't take the things I don't like. I do like some beers, and I love coffee.

Deb

[VeloVT]

Shootingstar, what are traditional Canadian Thanksgiving foods?

I'm not super picky in general (though left to my own devices I certainly have my preferences). However, as a guest, there's very little that is commonly served in western households that I would refuse. Anchovies, served filleted, are kind of gross to me but I could smile and tuck them away if it were important. Certain insects or worms or rodents might be difficult for me (not commonly served here). Tripe, sweetbreads or haggis would be hard for me, but liver and maybe heart (of animals that are commonly eaten) would probably be OK for me (I actually like foie gras, for instance).

I'm fine with most sushi.

Fine with all soy products.

Not a beer drinker but on occasion I can have a glass and drink it slowly.

The one think that truly activates my gag reflex, no exaggeration, is wheatgrass juice. Prior to trying it, I thought it was the most amazing, fantastic smell, two, but after having a shot or two, even a whiff gets the bile going.

[OakLeaf]

Pork. For me that's not religious, it's just the combination of my general reluctance to eat m**t at all, my especial reluctance to eat factory-farmed m**t, and the high cognitive and emotional sophistication of swine. As I put it in another thread a while back, slaughtering something that's capable of forming a close emotional relationship with an unrelated animal - even an animal of another species including a human - just repels me. Call it hypocritical, but if someone offers me a vegetable lightly flavored with pork that I can serve myself a portion that doesn't contain any actual meat (like bean soup or boiled green beans, e.g.), I usually will still have some.

Veal and lamb. Pretty irrationally in the case of lamb I suppose, but really a gut response in both cases.

I'm allergic to a long list of foods, but not the life-threatening kind of allergy, just the kind that makes me congested, fatigued and edematous. So unless it's the peak of pollen season and/or I'm already sick - or maybe if I have a big event in the next couple of days - the only thing I completely refuse because of my allergies is ice cream. The combination of the dairy and the cold temperature just kills me. Passing on dessert isn't a big deal in any case - even if it's the only thing that's served, rather than ice cream with cake or pie as it usually is - so I don't feel I'm being rude.

Other than that, I'll have a taste of anything, to be polite (including tongue and sea cucumber, which I just can't abide the texture, and konnyaku, which is on the same list). Is sea cucumber served raw as sushi? That might be interesting - although honestly, with the exception of amaebi, I'm not a huge fan of shellfish sushi. (And yes, I relish the tempura shrimp heads! :D) I haven't mustered the courage to order natto yet, although I enjoy other fermented East Asian foods like kimchi and Chinese preserved tofu. But if I were a guest and someone served me natto, you bet I'd try a small bite - as much for the adventure as for the etiquette.

[Medianox]

I just cannot handle the taste of black licorice in any form, anise, whatever.
It gives me a physical reaction immediately if tasted accidently....yecch.
The other thing that I will not eat is liver of any kind, beef, chicken, no way.
I guess also you could include any organ meat, though I have never had anything but liver, the idea of eating something's brain (or kidneys or heart, etc) just makes me want to vomit.

And bugs. I will not ever knowingly eat a bug served to me (though my mom tells me I used to eat ants when I was a kid, but I gave it up when I was 3), like a grasshopper or crickets or grubs or anything like that. No thank you. I had a co-worker a few years ago who was very adventurous and signed up for a "Cooking with Bugs " class. He came back and told us in glowing terms how yummy all the stuff was....and maybe it was, but we never let him sign up for any pot lucks after that.

I never buy, order or eat veal either, but thats more of a personal choice. I grew up liking lamb because my grandmother would make it a lot, but one day my oldest son (who is 8) overheard me talking about cooking some and burst into tears, crying out, "thats not fair-those lambs never hurt anyone-they are just LAMBS! You can't eat lambs!".
Made me cry too, and I haven't mentioned it since.

Beyond those things, not a picky eater.

[shootingstar]

Shootingstar, what are traditional Canadian Thanksgiving foods?

I'm not super picky in general (though left to my own devices I certainly have my preferences).

As I have responded throughout this thread, I will eat alot of things, without complaint. But I personally do have preferences..

Ever since as a child born and raised in Canada, there is no particular thxgiving food tradition we observed. For myself and my extended family, thxgiving is another day to have a bigger more special meal, usually with dishes we normally don't cook /prepare on a regular basis. Often a great excuse for others to try something new.

For my dearie, though his background is German, his family rarely had turkey. It's North American type of dish --roast turkey. For traditional German in past, goose or duck was a more a special occasion fowl. But we don't have these bird meats at home.

His daughter has alot of food dislikes, verging on phobias and won't eat:
brussel sprouts, asparagus,
most Chinese mustard greens (there's about 6 different varieties. This would include even neutral stuff like bok choy, Shanghai/pak choy, gai lan, you choy, etc.)

green tea
all root vegetables - that means no squash, beets, celery root, turnip, parsnips, pumpkin nor kohl rabi. But yes for for pumpkin pie,
carrot &potato
mushrooms
escargot
some meats (lamb, veal, pork, rabbit. She has a pet rabbit.)
a couple more things/food groups which I can't remember right now.

She is 31 yrs. old.
Honest, it takes the fun out of preparing a special, interesting meal on certain occasions. At least she likes sushi/sashimi, strong smelly cheeses, wine, etc. So we do go ahead to prepare 1-2 dishes that she doesn't like, along with stuff all 3 of us would like.

[shootingstar]

For thxgiving dinner, he's making a carrot soup, a seafood dish (not yet determined). I'm making 2 different focaccia from scratch, one of them smoked salmon with dill and focaccia, other one is a dessert one embedded with fresh grapes, flavoured with ginger,honey, anise, etc.

Probably 1-2 more items. Not sure. Probably serve a strong lovely smelly cheese. Our thxgiving dinners are pretty eclectic. We like it that way. Other years, dinners have been way more elaborate.

No, ever since I've been with him we have never made the effort to cook a whole bird. I don't even know how to cut up a chicken properly to cook or post-roasting/baking. If I prepare chicken, I buy chicken breast. Lazy me.

[malkin]

His daughter has alot of food dislikes, verging on phobias and won't eat...

She is 31 yrs. old.
Honest, it takes the fun out of preparing a special, interesting meal on certain occasions.

At least she likes sushi/sashimi, strong smelly cheeses, wine, etc. So we do go ahead to prepare 1-2 dishes that she doesn't like, along with stuff all 3 of us would like.

You're very accomodating. I'd probably tell her to bring her own Happy Meal.

[shootingstar]

Well, malkin I'm not a parent so maybe I'm not seeing certain things right here. I dunno.

But I was totally impressed to see my little 18-month old niece dig her hands into and stuffing her mouth with, chopped up steamed bok choy, pasta bow ties, mashed squash, rice, etc. She likes...green olives. Wow.

Her mother believes.. a parent should try a food (provided child is not allergic/sick from it) cooked in different ways...on a child 15-20 different times, before parent gives up. Of course, that could be over a period of months, years. She thinks alot parents don't gently try hard enough. It does take alot of patience.

Mother is a doctor.

[Onix]

I'm a vegetarian...so...meat is off the table. I also don't eat fish--so that is off the table too.

Otherwise...umm....I'll try anything just about once.


I can usually get my self out of anything though with a simple: "It looks really good, but my stomach has been really off the last few days, and I think I've got to stick with the boring stuff ;)"

[ginny]

this is fun...

Um, the only food I really really hate is onions. Even in a nice restaurant, I will take the time to pick onions out of something, or I just won't eat. I swear there is some compound in there that only the onion hating among us can taste...

I have mild food allergies to peanuts, corn and soy. Unfortunately, I really like all three of those things, but as I get older, I learn it's just not worth it to eat corn chips, or yummy, salty peanuts.

I have had fresh Durian... I won't go out of my way to eat it again. If I found myself in Singapore again and it was offered to me once again, I would eat it to be polite. I also will not eat fois gras or veal from personal convictions. I was at a formal dinner last year, where the menu (not revealed prior to arriving at the dinner) involved BOTH fois gras and veal. I ate both as it was already prepared and set before me. I felt horrible about it.

I like the idea of gently trying foods a number of times. My SO will not tough asparagus. I'm sure he would appreciate it if I could hide what it is - though, if he did the same to me with onions, I would not be pleased, so we have eliminated asparigus from our diets.

[Mr. Bloom]

onions and garlic exile me to another room:eek:

boiled okra - yuck!

hog jowls and blackeyed peas - not since my mother force it on me in 1972! - Double Yuck!

Squash - eke

Grits - Despite my southern upbringing - NEVER!

Tea - Pass out allergic!

Coffee - can't stand anything with that flavor

[MomOnBike]

This thread makes me wonder (yet again) if, when we say we just don't like a food, what we are responding to is an allergy to whatever it is. For example, I have wondered if I have a banana allergy, they just tast & feel wrong.

DH says that cucumbers just don't agree with him, so all his cucumber slices magically translocate to my plate. Allergy? Intolerance? I have to wonder.

BTW, I'll help with any tea, onion, squash or root vegis anyone doesn't want.

Oh, and T-giving in our house has a group of Very Specific group of recipies I must fix and Cannot Be Altered! Turkey with a specific stuffing which includes a bread I make special, chorizo, various vegis & wine, brussel sprouts with garlic mustard butter, butterhorn rolls, Cranberry Chop-Chop good stuff (a mix of cranberries, onion and jalepeno) and a cranberry pound cake. Yes, this is caloric. I thank whatever is in charge of things I only have to cook this way once a year.

[malkin]

I would certainly not turn down any of the food at MomonBike's T'giving table!
And I would probably be found loitering around, schmoozing for that Chop Chop recipe...
*hint*

[Tuckervill]

I want this one:


garlic mustard butter,

Karen

[tctrek]

I am an incredibly picky/fussy eater. I cannot cook at all, so DH does all the cooking. He eats anything that will not eat him, but he usually cooks for me.. the fussy one.

DH and I explored why I am the way I am about food and we discovered that my mother was an awful cook -- I used to stuff my mouth with her food and run in the bathroom to get rid of it. We had to clean our plates, so that was how I did it. I wasn't bulimic or anything like that, just couldn't stand the taste of it!! For most of my childhood, I lived on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

It took me over 50 years to discover the roots of my food aversion -- now I try to eat different things, but I'm not always successful. I eat foods that I know I like and that are healthy for me but a limited menu. Sigh... I know DH would love it if I was more adventurous.

[Owlie]

I will not eat boiled or canned veggies unless someone serves it to me, the guest. The first time I went to visit DBF at his house in AZ, he had BEGGED his parents to make what his family usually does for Christmas dinner when I was there. They always do Norwegian meatballs, lefse, cranberries and...green bean casserole. DBF, thankfully, won't eat green beans in casserole form. That still meant choking down a serving of tinned green beans.

I will not eat liver or organ meat in any form. Nor will I eat anything gooey, squishy or gelatinous, invertebrates, or veal. If said gooey/squishy/gelatinous thing is of vegetable origin, I'll try a bit to be polite. (And occasionally, it turns out to be good!) If it's of animal origin...no. I have mild allergies to "undercooked" soy products and peanuts. (I can eat tofu, soy sauce and roasted peanuts with no trouble--if it's been fermented or cooked at high temperatures, I'm good. But no soy milk or edamame for me.) I don't particularly like red wine or beer (well, for the most part), but I can get through a glass.

DBF is a picky eater on top of having odd food allergies. He's allergic to bananas, melons with the exception of one hard-to-find variety, black olives and sulfites. I do most of the cooking, and have yet to make something that he doesn't like (his mom was amazed) but I'm waiting. Oh, and nothing can be touching anything else on his plate. I let him serve himself. I've broken him of that habit at least for curries and things. (No, dear, the sauce goes ON the rice...)

[PamNY]

Wow, I'm staggered by the range of things on the dislike list. My aunt used to call me the "human garbage can" and now I know why. In my defense, I do know and value quality in food.

I don't eat meat, but otherwise I will try and likely enjoy anything. I haven't learned to like natto or Marmite, but you never know.

This is OT, but I am truly sickened by the smell of meat, though I try to be impeccably polite about it. I guess the only foods I dislike are foods I have to eat while smelling meat.

Pam

[Owlie]

Oh, forgot one big one: Dried fruit. I hate the texture. Also, why would you dehydrate a perfectly good grape/apricot/whatever? The juice is the best part!

[KnottedYet]

Being gluten-intolerant creates a royal pain in the butt if I go to someone's house for dinner. I mention my problem (and emphasize that it really isn't a big deal, I'm not gonna die if I eat gluten, I'll just be sick for a week) and offer to bring a dish to share. (no wheat, oats, barley, or rye)

Going to restaurants is surprisingly easy, as I can suggest a food style that I know is easy to manage (Thai, Japanese, Mexican, Pho') and if not, I can always get a plain salad and plain baked potato with a plain meat or fried egg.

Unfortunately, I cannot politely eat something with gluten. I have nightmares about it. I really don't like getting sick. But I can dance around the issue well!

[copperlegend]

I have some weird food allergies: bananas, peaches, mangoes and apples. I break out in hives and could potentially have trouble breathing. I carry an epi-pen. Thankfully, most of my close friends know this and will either call and double check or just avoid anything I might be allergic to (for instance just make a chocolate cake instead of a fruity dessert).

I just can't bring myself to eat fois gras or any other organs, chicken feet, anything overly gelatenous, tripe, etc. I would rather not eat fish that still looks like fish. New Years Eve dinner a few years ago had whole lake trout. My bf knew it would freak me out so what'd he do? he named 'my' fish Stanley, and made it 'talk'. I kinda moved it around the plate and made it look like i at least tried it. Also I will try to avoid veal or lamb. I don't like the taste OR the ethics behind it.

[Trek420]

I will eat most anything except eggs with runny yolks or liver. I have had some liver dishes with enough onions, mushrooms, and/or bacon on top .... that I ate it. Chicken liver is fine but not big on beef liver.

Runny yolks I have tolerated stirred into rice like Hawaiian Sausage and eggs when I ordered scrambled and they forgot, just mixed it in.

Other than that I'm easy. I don't like soda but that's easy to get water.

[crazycanuck]

Liver..ick...blech...black licorice..nya..Chai tea..blech
Tripe-still don't quite get why it's part of a Yum Cha..

I'll try pretty much anything :D. If I eat an indian/indonesian/thai dish, i prefer it really really mild!

Just give me yummy food :p

[arielmoon]

I am every hostess' nightmare. I am a strict healthy foodie vegan. No refined sugar, enriched flour, alcohol, caffeine or anything coming from an animal. :)

[7rider]

I have no food allergies or dietary restrictions. Generally, I eat anything that doesn't run away from me.
That said, I don't care to eat, and would politely refrain from eating if offered: liver, brussel sprouts, and.....well....I think that's about it.
I'm not counting the really bizarre in there: crickets, worms, monkey brains, fried cicadas, suff like that. (A neighbor sauteed some newly hatched cicadas with garlic and butter when the 17-years hatched a few years ago, and claimed they were quite good. I'll take her word for it. I imagine anything is good cooked with butter and garlic, but I have my limits.)

[szsz]

I am every hostess' nightmare. I am a strict healthy foodie vegan. No refined sugar, enriched flour, alcohol, caffeine or anything coming from an animal. :)

That, add gluten intolerant and allergies. I am also a nightmare.

[PamNY]

I am every hostess' nightmare. I am a strict healthy foodie vegan. No refined sugar, enriched flour, alcohol, caffeine or anything coming from an animal. :)

Vegan isn't even remotely close to a nightmare IMO (unless the person wants to be a nightmare and make drama).

Pam

[aeiea]

There's nothing I dislike that I would politely eat.

However, I have very few dislikes:

1. bugs
2. things that are still moving while you eat them (like live uni in shell)

[colby]

Wow, so many different lists!! I'm a vegetarian but I eat fish (fish-atarian :p), so all non-fishy meats are off the list.

Can't stand vinegary and/or mustardy things - mustard, horseradish, wasabi, Tabasco, that sauce they put on buffalo wings. Ketchup is okay, though, and I will do a vinaigrette or oil/vinegar with bread if it's good. Mustard is okay mixed in with some dishes - crab cakes, mac n cheese, potato salad, that kind of thing, but it can't be predominant or overbearing. Malt vinegar is the worst.

I don't like most baked fruit desserts (e.g. apple pie). I don't know what it is, it just doesn't seem right (texture maybe?). I love fruit otherwise. I can tolerate a good bananas foster. I can do sweet potatoes, even the sweet preparation and not just savory, but too sweet and I shut down just like the warm fruit dessert. Muffins aren't bad. Maybe it's just some fruits. ;)

Artichokes are not on my list (too bitter?). I am adjusting to avocados gradually, have to be fresh or I won't eat them.

I'm trying to learn to love yogurt, but most yogurt just makes me make the Mr. Yuk face. I have been quoted saying "I pretend it's frosting, that works until it hits my mouth." (Stonyfield French Vanilla is it so far, or yogurt sauces)

Strong Tea, no. Black licorice, no. Not really a drinker, though I know the taste of a good red wine and a good champagne, and I will sample beer.

[crazycanuck]

Arielmoon, I would be in a panic if i had you over for dinner :( I'd be worried about getting it wrong & offending a dinner guest.

Would you give clueless folks like me recipes that we could make for you??:o

[papaver]

The only thing I refuse to eat is spicy stuff but that's just because my stomach can't handle it. Besides that, I'll eat just about everything... normal. ;)

[Biciclista]

I warned my sons to watch how their girlfriends ate after each of them brought dates home who wouldn't eat right. One girlfriend came to my house for dinner and then ate nothing. (and then later, after she left my house she ate a box of cookies!). Another girl wouldn't eat good food because it was fattening. My son actually lived with her and her mother (who was the same way) for a while, and poor kid was starving. After all, it has been proven that pickiness is hereditary. Picky eaters bear picky eating children.

Taking mother's warnings to heart, both of my sons henceforth have brought home young women who like food. It's not a perfect system, for example, my new daughter in law is obsessed with bacon, but she'll try every veggie I serve and got excited when I bought some goat meat.
Everyone is entitled to a few dislikes (I don't like asparagus, thanks to a traumatic childhood experience with CANNED asparagus) and if someone tells me he's vegan and he's coming for dinner; I will make sure that at least rice or beans is on the table (in addition to lovely veggie dishes).
Reading this thread is mind blowing!

[Jolt]

Just thought of a few more things I don't like: mustard, ketchup, and fake cheese sauces (Cheez Whiz and the like--yuck!).

[shootingstar]

I warned my sons to watch how their girlfriends ate after each of them brought dates home who wouldn't eat right. One girlfriend came to my house for dinner and then ate nothing. (and then later, after she left my house she ate a box of cookies!). Another girl wouldn't eat good food because it was fattening. My son actually lived with her and her mother (who was the same way) for a while, and poor kid was starving. After all, it has been proven that pickiness is hereditary. Picky eaters bear picky eating children.

Taking mother's warnings to heart, both of my sons henceforth have brought home young women who like food. It's not a perfect system, for example, my new daughter in law is obsessed with bacon, but she'll try every veggie I serve and got excited when I bought some goat meat.
Everyone is entitled to a few dislikes (I don't like asparagus, thanks to a traumatic childhood experience with CANNED asparagus) and if someone tells me he's vegan and he's coming for dinner; I will make sure that at least rice or beans is on the table (in addition to lovely veggie dishes).
Reading this thread is mind blowing!

Generally speaking the spouses of siblings are pretty flexible. They each may have 2-3 types of foods they prefer not to have --like dearie who doesn't eat shrimp nor squid (triglycerides need control) and different levels of hot spicy tolerance, but overall potluck special occasion meals are opportunities for family members to cook and try dishes they normally don't have regularily.

Though there is junk food consumed at family events, they are food dishes that within our own extended family, people don't eat regularily. There is real appreciation and effort to prepare dishes that aren't overly rich/fattening nor too sugary. So no real need to "educate" an adult family member to be more health conscious or at least, semi-health conscious. :o


Jolt: I keep ketchup just for hamburger or hot dog..which i seem to have only 1-2 times annually. Seeing ketchup with scrambled eggs/omelet..on other plates just amazes me. Why cover up a lovely egg dish with that sugary stuff?

[Starfish]

Please don't feed me kidney pie, or put kidneys in the stew.

[GLC1968]

Reading this thread is mind blowing!


No kidding!

I have lots (and lots) of food do's and don'ts that I follow when I am free to make my own choices, but as a guest, I keep my mouth shut unless specifically asked.

[nscrbug]

Oh boy...I have a laundry list of "dislikes", but I'll try and keep it short & simple. My aversion to many of the foods on my list, stems from a "texture" thing. If I don't like the texture of it in my mouth, I simply won't eat it. Yeah, I'm a very picky eater. I blame my (morbidly obese) mom for a lot of it, as she wasn't a very good role model when it came to healthy eating habits. She NEVER ate veggies/fruits, so therefore never pushed me to eat them. I actually didn't taste my first banana until I was 25!!! :eek: I'm sure her horrid eating habits contributed to her early demise. :(

Absolutely will NOT touch:

Fish of ANY kind (can't stomach the smell of it)
Alcohol of ANY kind (I gag from the smell of it)
organ meats (nuff said)
lamb/veal (don't like the smell of it)
asparagus (slimey...ewwww!)
peas (bad childhood experience!)
citrus fruits (stringy texture)
mushrooms (slimey and gross...yuck!)
vinegar and vinegar-based sauces/dressings
brussel sprouts (blech!)
store-bought cream pies (ewwwww...yuck)
Corned beef (shudder)
sauerkraut (double shudder)
hotdogs (mystery meat)

Will "politely" eat/try, but would rather not:

Anything with mayo or Miracle Whip
honeydew or cantaloupe (not thrilled about the smooth texture)
dishes prepared with LOTS of onions and/or tomatoes (I'll pick 'em out)
deep-fried or overly greasy foods (wrecks havoc on my tummy)
white or refined breads (I'm a whole-grains gal)

[shootingstar]

nscrbug:
vinegar and vinegar-based sauces/dressings

If you don't have the above, how do you have your salads flavoured? What type of dressing if you barely can even stand anything mayonnaise-like?


Not to make this whole thread overly negative, I will say I have acquired and now enjoy the following after broadening beyond Chinese home cooking:

Vinegar, vinegar-based sauces /dressings. That includes vinegared sushi rice- acquired taste and began to like it from mid 20's onward.

Sushi & sashimi- from late 20's onward

Strong mustards (not just French's), all types of olives- mid 20's onward

Anise- from early 30's onward. I used to dislike it because it reminded me of Old World fustiness. But being part of dearie's family and exposed to his mother's great baking, changed that.

I've always enjoyed sauerkraut. Come one, I grew up in a predominantly German-Mennonite area. Oktoberfest in our area, is the biggest version in North America outside of Germany.

I listed my preferences not to have, if given a choice alot earlier in my thread. But for sheer survival, I WILL eat the stuff if there's not much choice in the area. This is why I do believe developing a broad palate...so it's not a hassle travelling internationally nor ...across ethnic neighbourhoods.

So I will eat deep fried fish....because no other choice. Like I did several times when cycling in rural Maritime Canadian provinces. To feel abit better about it stomach-wise, I told myself: I cycled 80-100kms. that day too. It helped..:)

[Eden]

Seems like a lot of people maybe are not suffering from actual dislike of so many foods, but from exposure to bad cooking.....

I'll never write something off the first, second, probably even third time I've had it. You can get foods prepared poorly and *think* you don't like them.

I had octopus quite a few times and thought it was not too good before I found that if it is prepared correctly it is wonderful. I'm not crazy about a lot of cooked fish dishes, but I loooooove sushi. I used to think a lot of vegetables were nasty - probably because I'd never had them from any source that wasn't a can - Yeah, canned (or jarred) asparagus is awful, but fresh asparagus is yummy with a capitol Y. I don't care to use many veggies that are not fresh - okra, artichoke hearts and corn work frozen, but I don't care to buy other veggies frozen.

There are definitely things I don't eat regularly for health reasons, some things I avoid for ethical/philosophical ones, but I've definitely learned that no matter what I ever thought in the past, always try a food if offered it, especially if its prepared in a way I've never had it. I would have missed out on so many absolutely food experiences if I closed my mind and my mouth to things. I really believe that one of the things that makes people open up the most is sharing food. Food is a huge part of a culture - eating with someone and eating what they eat is sharing their culture with them! People love to talk about their food - it makes them happy!

Maybe I am unusual, but I definitely have a broad palate - I love to cook and I love to cook foods from all sorts of ethnicities. I cook a lot of Chinese, Thai, Indian, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Middle Eastern. People often ask me which of your parents is "X" after talking about cooking food from that place??? Nope - sorry I just have a lot of cook books and access to the internet...

[Kimmyt]

I won't eat liver or kidneys. I've tried heart and tripe and I like them both, so it's not just general organ meat. I think it's because I work with both of those organs and their roles in the body and can't get over that. Or maybe it's the texture. I'm not sure I could eat tongue.

But, if I was at someone's house and they made any of those above things, I would freely admit that I had never eaten it and am somewhat afraid to, but would give it a try.

Also, this year I joined a CSA. It was a good opportunity to broaden my vegetable experiences. I told myself I wouldn't write off any vegetables I hadn't eaten or 'liked' before. I discovered that I enjoyed cauliflower, and other items I had previously thought I disliked. I can even tolerate (or enjoy!) eggplant given the correct preparation.

[nscrbug]

nscrbug:

If you don't have the above, how do you have your salads flavoured? What type of dressing if you barely can even stand anything mayonnaise-like?


I can tolerate a ranch or honey-mustard flavored dressing (on the side)...but that's about it. I definitely don't like the oil & vinegar varieties.

[OakLeaf]

nscrbug:

If you don't have the above, how do you have your salads flavoured?

I'm surprised that you'd be the one to ask that question Shootingstar, because vegetables, including salad vegetables, actually taste good.

Two of the things I'm allergic to are yeast and corn, and that means that when I'm being strict about my diet (rare these days), I can't trust any salad dressing I don't make myself (vinegar, corn oil, corn sugar).

Eating salads with no dressing for 3-4 months when I was first diagnosed and learning to manage my food allergies, really taught me to appreciate the flavors of foods. Most of the time now I do indulge in salad dressing, but a teaspoonful is more than enough for a large salad bowl. As an acquaintance of my father's once said, "Dressing is to flavor the vegetables, not to water them." :D