Tags
adventurous eater, American food, balut, environment, eyeballs, Gastronaut, Indian, Itallian, Japanese, Mexican, picky, picky eater, Thai, vegan
I only eat American food. Let’s go somewhere American.
We were speaking with someone we didn’t know very well, and we were trying to choose a lunch spot. Those might be the saddest words I’ve ever heard when it comes to picking out a restaurant. No Thai, Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, or other ethnic cuisines? At all? Ever?
Now that’s a picky eater.
Or the time my sister’s friend was spending the night and would only eat round waffles for breakfast – not square?
Another very picky eater.
Growing up, was I a picky eater? Oh yeah.
If it had sauce, I wouldn’t eat it. I only wanted plain chicken nuggets or strips. But I wanted all the “gross bites” taken out before I ate them. Plain bagels. I wouldn’t touch anything mushy (boy, was I missing out on guacamole and Indian food!).
I was very hesitant to try any new edible. Sushi? Heck no. Veggies? Only if they were covered in cheese. (I was Miss Cheese, remember?)
Fast forward to age 23 when I became vegetarian for ethical reasons. Suddenly, I had no idea what to eat.
I perused vegetarian and vegan recipes in books and on websites. Many of them involved unfamiliar food (what is this green stuff, kale?). Hmmm.
So what did I do? I ate pasta until I figured it out (not recommended). My palate either had to expand, or I needed to go back to how I knew how to eat.
With my new knowledge of the horrible lives most animals raised for food endure until they’re slaughtered, I braved new foods. I did not want to contribute to something I so deeply disagreed with.
I tried all kinds of different cuisines, dishes, and recipes. I ordered new things at my favorite restaurants, and turns out…I loved them! Being vegan vastly expanded my food horizons.
Now, as a vegan, I would call myself an adventurous eater.
Some people might laugh at that because my adventurous eating doesn’t include the “Gastronaut” foods of eyeballs, chicken heart, rat, balut, and any other number of cruel (and in my opinion, very icky) foods.
But as long as it fits in my ethical standards of doing the least harm possible to animals, I will try it!
I’m free of my picky-eater cage!
So in short, a picky eater is someone who doesn’t eat certain foods based on likes or dislikes. It’s associated with childhood phases or pain-in-the-neck adults. It’s got a negative connotation for sure.
Some people can’t help it (heard of Selective Eating Disorder?). Some people just aren’t willing to step out of their comfort zone.
Either way, picky-eater-land is a limiting place to be.
A vegan on the other hand is someone who aims to do the least harm to other sentient beings through informed food choices.
Or someone who wants to be as healthy as possible in what they eat.
Or someone who wants to do the least harm to the environment by eating consciously.
No matter the reason, vegans choose not to eat something because of reasons other than not liking the food.
Now, let’s cut those corners off the square waffles to make them round. Does that work?
To gastronomic vegan adventures!
Sarah
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Hi your story describes me to the T right now! I have the inspiration to go vegan for all the same reasons. Not necessarily to get healthier but to reduce and not co tribute to animal cruelty. I too am currently a picky eater. I LOVE seasonings but absolutely hate any kind of sauce or mushy foods. I swear I thought I was the only one because I was told that I was just always difficult. Can u email me with any food suggestions that will help me transition to this lifestyle? I am willin to try for my beliefs.
Hi Carissa! It is absolutely wonderful you want to go vegan for the animals! It’s such a fun and exciting journey to change your food habits. And you are certainly not alone – there are lots of “picky” vegans out there. I can’t see your email address from this post, but please email me at sarahmswingle at gmail.com, and I’ll respond with food suggestions! Another great place to see some ideas is my What I Vegan Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/whativegan. I post pictures of the different foods I eat and love, and you might see some that interest you!
I used to be a super picky eater until I became a vegetarian.Since I was no longer bound by the idea of “meat” being the ideal perfect pure food I started trying new foods. Now I am the least-picky eater I know; I’ll eat anything that didn’t have eyeballs. I’ve caught a lot of flak for my diet, a lot of carnivores act like it would be impossible to please me, but thats because their diets are so limited that they cannot comprehend meals without meat. Its kind of disgusting, I’ll go out to eat with a meat-eater, who has an entire menu catering to their tastes (they can order ANYTHING) and they’ll order some big meat dish but turn their nose up at it because, well….something.. it had a vegetable or flavor or sauce to it that didnt taste like mcdonalds or whatever. They’re finicky. Meanwhile, I am happy with my one vegetarian dish that was on the menu.
I almost consider being a leftover-tarian…Eating meat dishes that my meat-eating friends entirely waste because the waste grosses me out more than the meat does. Or having the waiter box up their meal to give to someone else (who would actually eat my friends that they do not know leftovers, lol). What do you think? Either way makes me sound like a weirdo but it bothers me SO MUCH.
Thanks for your comment, Cat! I had a similar experience for sure: my palate expanded immensely when I went veg because I was forced to try new, unfamiliar foods. I understand the frustration of seeing food go to waste, but instead of eating their leftover meat, which is unhealthy, I would maybe see if the restaurant has a food waste program – or maybe even try to get them to order a vegetarian or vegan dish to begin with or invite them over for an all-veg dinner. That way, their meal is already better for the planet and animals, and I bet they’d be surprised by how great it is! 🙂