Fussy Eaters

[ShrikeAttack]

This is a bit of a TAAT so apologies!

A very beleaguered OP currently has a thread running about her fussy-eating husband. Loads of posters have piled on to proclaim they are emphatically 'Not Fussy Eaters', but wouldn't eat pulses, most vegetables, vegetarian food, etc.

To me they are fussy eaters. I understand about conditions involving anxiety around certain foods and sometimes the need for limited diets, but to me, 'non-fussy' eaters eat pretty much anything (barring vegetarianism or religious constraints).

Having said that, I'll eat any food, as long as it's well cooked, I've had some dreadful meals that I really didn't want to eat. I'm not a human dustbin!

I found lots of "fussy eaters" actually haven't tried the things they claim they "simply cannot eat"🤷🏻
I get there are actual issues around texture (I have it with mushrooms) and that there are serious issues. But frankly, how many people REALLY have these.. Rather than "Oh, fermented/foreign/unknown to me/food you say? I don't trust that"...

Ha ItPut the only thing I ever struggled tl get down were in a well-regarded hotel, and it was the oysters. I love oysters, sweet little natives in season, or rock oysters at the edge of the season.

These fuckers were massive though, and I'd ordered half a dozen. They were about the size of my palm! I forced one down, and it made me gag.

I sent them back. They were too big. Far too big!

Reading these threads as an autistic person is pretty upsetting. I’m not being stubborn or bratty or childish, there are some foods that I literally cannot eat. Now wondering if my loved ones think this about me.

Hey @theblackparade, I really don't judge. My DD is autistic. I understand. I think I've made it clear I'm not talking about people with specific sensory feelings around food. Rather those who are just limited in their palates when NT.

I'm always being told I am a fussy eater and that is how I think of myself, but according to that survey I'm not really fussy at all! I have a disadvantage in that I am a super taster, so bitter things taste REALLY bitter, and I cannot eat chillies, pepper, mustard at all. Other things I just don't like, but I could force down a small quantity if given them at a dinner party. However at my advanced age I really don't see why I should have to eat things I don't like as long as I have a balanced diet, there is an alternative and it isn't going to offend anyone else. I really don't understand why other people get so angry when other people don't choose to eat the same things as them!

There’s no official definition of “fussy”. Think what you like! I eat most things, probably no more than 3-4 “ordinary” foods I won’t touch. I couldn’t care less what other people choose to eat.

I got 11 out of 87 but 6 were things I did not recognize. What exactly is "marmite"? I have never had anything Indian - curry, masala, etc. There are no Indians in our community and no Indian restaurants. There are Chinese and Pizza places everywhere. At least six of each within one mile of my home and all deliver! So If marmite is marinated in soy sauce or has cheese melted on it, I would probably eat it.

The only thing on that list I will not eat is blue cheese.

What exactly is "marmite"?

I eat everything on that list (felt like there was a fair few things missing?) but I'm quite annoying in that I pride myself on liking everything. I was fussy as a child but was encouraged to keep trying stuff as taste change. I try this with my children.

I very much agree that texture is often the main determiner of people will eat something or not.

Incidentally, I think a vast amount of people hate fresh tomatoes. Anyone else find this? I love them!

@GeorgiaGirl52

I got 11 out of 87 but 6 were things I did not recognize. What exactly is "marmite"? I have never had anything Indian - curry, masala, etc. There are no Indians in our community and no Indian restaurants. There are Chinese and Pizza places everywhere. At least six of each within one mile of my home and all deliver! So If marmite is marinated in soy sauce or has cheese melted on it, I would probably eat it.

Ooh I want to know where this poster lives!

I score four on the list: kidney, liver, marmite and raw onion. Even so, I eat liver pate and small amounts of raw onion (large amounts make me sick). I am fussy about how things are cooked, though. Broadly, I’ll eat almost anything that’s cooked with care.

I scored three, blue cheese, kidney and liver.

I mean four, forgot shellfish.

I ticked 20 things in that list. Liver, blue cheese, oysters, cucumber, fresh tomatoes, asparagus, fish with head/tail still attached, kidney, I can't remember the others. I've tried them all, I know i don't like them all due to the taste or texture. Things like cucumber taste vile to me and have a strong bitter taste.

Reading these threads as an autistic person is pretty upsetting. I’m not being stubborn or bratty or childish, there are some foods that I literally cannot eat. Now wondering if my loved ones think this about me.

As the parent of a child with ARFID, I would hope they're not thinking that about you. I don't think it about DS.

I would eat 87/87 items on that list 👌

Am Ackackacking at Marmite in soy sauce. Death by salt 😂😂😂

I classify a fussy eater (adult) as someone that makes a fuss; once had a friend and his new girlfriend stay for the weekend - he gave me upfront her 'wouldn't eats' which were really specific e.g not melted cheese, not very meaty etc etc I was . I made my planned meal, moussaka - and she was ummimg and hawing but actually she'd never tried it before rather than didn't like it! She tried it and liked it but she definitely went down as 'fussy'. Different if you're planning on cooking fish and check with guests and they let you know they don't care for fish. For me, unless it's a food i detest then I will not express a preference and just eat what I am given!

I'm moderately fussy in that I don't like a few food items (mushrooms, aubergine, celery) and I don't like certain dishes (anything slop, like casserole or chunky soup) but I do get fed up being told I'm fussy for not liking said bland slop by someone who would turn their nose up at most foreign foods, but somehow that's acceptable.

That said, I do find it odd how much pride people take in 'eating everything'. I can't think of another example where that wouldn't be odd. Like if someone said 'I will watch ANY TV show' I would just think why? Do you have no taste?

@Pukkatea

I'm moderately fussy in that I don't like a few food items (mushrooms, aubergine, celery) and I don't like certain dishes (anything slop, like casserole or chunky soup) but I do get fed up being told I'm fussy for not liking said bland slop by someone who would turn their nose up at most foreign foods, but somehow that's acceptable.

That said, I do find it odd how much pride people take in 'eating everything'. I can't think of another example where that wouldn't be odd. Like if someone said 'I will watch ANY TV show' I would just think why? Do you have no taste?

There is a definite difference between having an expansion and flexible diet (which is excellent from a nutritional point of view) and the undiscriminating consumption of entertainment material.

expansive**!

I’m guessing GeorgiaGirl might be from the state of Georgia in the southern USA. I know from experience Marmite is pretty hard to come by over there, and decent Indian food even more so (might be different in New York, say, but in the south the few restaurants we found were trying to cater to “American” tastes by toning down the spices and adding loads of salt. Deeply disappointing).

I don’t like most fruit. It’s a texture thing for me. But as this is unlikely to spoil anyone else’s restaurant / dinner party experience, I can get away without being condemned as “fussy”. I do have a maddeningly picky autistic child. Weirdly enough a lot of his aversions are to bland foods, and the stuff he does like is often viewed as “adventurous” or things that divide opinion; he’s the reason I know exactly where to locate Marmite in the great state of Oklahoma

I scored 1- pickled eggs are horrible; but I would still eat them to be polite

I'm allergic to mussels and oysters and the one other thing which I really cannot eat is milk puddings- rice pudding, sago, tapioca etc. There are a few foods about which I am unenthusiastic (beetroot, raw celery) but I will eat them and will try anything one.

I think that fussy eaters are :a) missing out; b)irritating as guests; and c) a bit attention seeking

I scored 4. 😁 Kidneys are disgusting, avocado overrated, olives are weird and mushrooms have odd consistency (but I don't mind the taste)

pickled eggs are horrible; but I would still eat them to be polite

They are surprisingly nice chopped up in a salad