To despise picky eaters?

[Brownoliveskincurlyblackhair]

If you have an allergy or religious reasons not to eat something, fine obviously but grown adults who 'don't eat' something absolutely irk me beyond words. My MIL looked horrified earlier when I said I was making chicken as a part of a weekend spread because SIL 'doesn't eat it'. I have accommodated for SIL but honestly, I was bought up that you get what you're given and eat what's infront of you. It's terrible manners is it not?

Yabu - hosts should cater for preferences
Yanbu - it's rude

Humans evolved to eat a relatively limited diet because they would eat whatever could be found where they were from.

I don't think that's true on any level. We're omnivores, for a start. Plus we've outsourced our digestion (via cooking) to allow us to digest a huge spread of food sources that would otherwise be denied us.Most animals hunt, forage or scavenge. Some do two. Humans are one of a select few (so select I can't be arsed to think of others) that do all three.

For readers ;
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Omnivore-Lyall-Watson/dp/0340428562

Omnivores would eat whatever is indigenous, this wouldn’t include a spice palette from a different continent on the other side of the globe.
Digestion is also a separate thing to how the brain processes information about what we’re eating, which is what I was referring to.

Omnivores would eat whatever is indigenous, this wouldn’t include a spice palette from a different continent on the other side of the globe.

Why not ?

Humans are neophiles - it's how we are human.

Digestion is also a separate thing to how the brain processes information about what we’re eating, which is what I was referring to.

The theory is. if we didn't cook, we wouldn't have such large brains. Food and brain power are intimately linked.

There was an amusing BBC documentary a few years back where a bunch of folks volunteered to go on a raw food diet. None of them could last the course.

Imagine how depressing a family gathering this must have been!

I've issues with texture and food touching. I have to deconstruct certain things when I'm eating out to make sure they're safe or "clean" as I call it. I despise me for it but it's beyond my control.

I've also developed IBS in the last few years and certain things make me poo myself so I have to be cautious with that too. That's anything made from meat juices, stock, new potatoes, mayonnaise....

We're not doing it to be awkward. It's a complete nightmare. Thankfully my friends are not judgemental asses and when we are out very much take it in their stride. Several see the benefits as they gobble up the odd bits on my plate.

As an adult, you use your words and say something like "thank you very much, that was lovely... I couldn't manage the xxx" It's easily solved, I do not get offended if plates are not empty.

With tiresome predictability, this appeared in my feed after posting on this thead

Because until it was possible to import these things they just wouldn’t have been available. There is some evidence that tolerance to allergens is genetically inherited. In some species, it’s thought that preferences and aversions may also be inherited.
Cooking food has absolutely played a massive role in how human brains have developed and evolved. It hasn’t made us universally inclined to be adventurous eaters though.

It hasn’t made us universally inclined to be adventurous eaters though.

Evolution doesn't care about the individual. Humans are neophiles - as a species we seek out new things. Some may harm us, but some may help us. In the long run as a strategy it seems to have worked out OK.

We have basically destroyed the planet we live on. It hasn’t worked out okay at all 😄

I knew someone like this. He didn't say it out loud, but he thought people who had food requirements were just fussy and should eat what everyone else was eating. Then he developed a medical condition which meant that now he has food requirements too, and admits that now he gets it. So I think the message is, if you can eat everything, recognise that you are the lucky one, and do your best to accommodate those who can't.

Nonsense. The planet will be fine.

We may be destroying ourselves - but the universe won't miss us. Meanwhile life will go on as it has done for 4 billion years.

It's not all about us, you know.

When I invite people to eat at my house I really rather they enjoy the food I’ve put the effort into preparing.

So I always ask not just for dietary requirements but also food preferences.

I enjoy cooking and tbh some of the best meals I’ve made have been because I’ve had to stray from “tried and tested” into doing something new to accommodate everyone.

That said, I’m not a saint and tend to get pretty pissed off when I have made a meal to meet specific (sometimes expensive) requirements only to see said person digging into food they were adamant they could not possibly eat (no, I’m not talking about having a taste of something, more a vegan hoovering up 50% of the dauphinois potatoes I’d made for 6 others as a side dish for a rack of lamb, having spent time making them a main of their own with truffles no less - then being angrily accused of turning them vegetarian 🤪 - I shit you not).

No the vegan dish was not wasted. It was bloody delicious and we ate the rest to make up for the lack of potatoes (vegan truffle pasta).

No, they have not been invited back.

the dauphinoise potatoes I’d made for 6 others as a side dish

The disappearance of the Schwarz packet mix for this continues to baffle the world. Even they can't answer me. Literally. Still waiting for a reply after contacting them 2 months ago.

You're right, it wasn't!
😳

As an example of bad manners your posts sum that up perfectly.

And just in case it’s not apparent to you, I mean your posts: the way you speak of other people, are the epitome of bad manners.

That finger you point at others has three fingers pointing back at you.

I don't want people to make the effort to feed me if i am going to get food i dislike. I like most food. Would you expect a vegetarian to be greatful if you served meat?

Wtf? OP is not the rude one here. She’s cooking for her in laws for the ~40th time and is getting grief over the food which the SIL has eaten before many times.

I've checked through my posts.

Some are simply repeating the fact that OP has put on a spread, so SIL doesn't need to eat the chicken.

I made 2 posts about millions starving in Ethiopia and perhaps if a PP lived there, even she could maybe manage to eat "faux butter"

Another PP gave me some info about Ethiopia for which I thanked her.

Therefore I do NOT think you have the right to say your opinion is rude, uneducated and mean spirited

Have reported you for this personal attack.

My favourite Christmas was when my brother, who is a fantastic cook, catered for our very large family, including some dietary restrictions. When we had all arrived he said "I want to make it clear, so there are no complaints, that with a coeliac, two vegetarians and a vegan, the vegetarians are going to have to eat the vegan." We knew what he meant. 😃

Supertaster my arse. That's just you though. As horrible as it would be to me too.

@Brownoliveskincurlyblackhair surely if your going to spend time and money on cooking for someone you check with them first. It not only saves you the time and money but it’s just basic good hosting imo 🤷‍♀️

Oh, I wasn't implying that was why I wouldn't eat that offering.

I mentioned it as an example of how some people (and a "chef" should know better) assume that everyone will like whatever they whip up.

Absolutely 100% agree on this! I’ve often wondered about the cyanide connection too.