When I was little, I was a very picky eater. I still am to some extent. But the older I got, the more I realized what I liked and what not, and why. I would like to tell you about what I figured out!
I have always had issues with some types of food. I was very picky about almost everything. I did not like cheese, believe it or not (I am Dutch). I do not like certain meat, especially ham. Some vegetables were also an issue, but I believe a lot of children go through this and discover they like it after a while. I did not like fish or shrimps. I did not like most of the sauces (except for ketchup). I did not like cake or pies. Going to restaurants wasn’t that fun for me. I had very limited options to choose from.
Structure
When I grew older, I learned to eat more things eventually. But other things were and still are a no-go, like the cheese. But I think the turning point came when I started to cook my own food. You can try so many different things. My parents weren’t a fan of trying new foods. We usually ate the same dishes every couple of weeks. I can’t remember us ever trying out a recipe or a new flavor.
I moved out of my parents’ house when I was 18. All of a sudden I had to cook my own meals and do the grocery shopping. Which is scary but also exciting in some way. I walked around the supermarket and just picket whatever I liked. Vegetables, meat, it didn’t matter. I just picked out meat / fish for 7 days and do the same with vegetables. Sometimes they had a good deal on a kind of fish I never had before. But instead of what I usually did, I chose to try it out. Turns out I actually like a lot more than I thought!
New found loves and hates
I figured out that I DO like shrimps. I like them a LOT, actually. I just don’t like the tiny ones that you get with lettuce and cocktail sauce. I hated those, and still do. But I looove gamba’s! I also love big shrimps in a salad, and with rice. I also learned that I do not like the smokey flavor of some foods. Hence why I never liked ham. But I love baked ham with no smokey taste. It also helped me choose meat or fish in te supermarket. Also a thing that I discovered is that I do not like certain textures of food. I don’t like noodles for example, and still don’t like cheese because of the texture. Same goes for some meats.
The positive thing is that I learned to eat a lot more and am open to try things out! I love picking recipes from the internet when I have certain groceries. I find myself googling recipes. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Watching cooking shows also made a huge difference. I can improvise when I am missing an ingredient and it still turns out great!
Cooking
What also helps is that I discovered a love for cooking. I really like preparing dishes that people love! I love the combining and picking things for the perfect dinner. But not just that, I feel like I have a hidden talent for preparing food that I am just now discovering. I think I got it from my father, he would always cook something special on Sundays. Sometimes I’d watch him do stuff or help him out. I loved to help him cut the vegetables or other things.
I also really enjoy working with fresh vegetables. Going to the market, picking what you want, feeling it in your hands. Then going home and preparing it, cutting the vegetables and really making the dish your own. I prefer fresh vegetables over those pre-packaged vegetables most of the time. Even for soup. Let me cut my own carrots and onions for soup and I am very happy. It just feels so much more of your own!
Experience!
Knowing what you eat and how to prepare it has been a big step in being a less picky eater. So maybe if your child expresses interest in cooking, show them how you prepare things. Maybe they will learn some things about themselves, like I did! It’s all just an experience of what you like and what you don’t. You might just not like the underlying flavor, but love the meat / vegetable instead!
Have a lovely day!
Alissa