There are picky eaters, and then there are picky eaters.  The latter are those who I think need to change.  These are people who don’t try things and just make a decision that they don’t like it based on visuals, smell or texture. We are not talking about people who can’t eat things due to health or religious/cultural reasons.  That is something which should be respected.

I find the most of these people tend to be less adventurous and had less exposure.  They often live off of a few select favourites which they grew up with, never gravitating towards anything new.  Why would one want to do that?  Why would they play it safe?  It’s boring!  I don’t think I’m super-adventurous when it comes to eating (there are things that I, too, won’t touch), but I will always willing to try them before making a decision.  In fact, I admit that I’ve had my mind changed.  For example, I used to HATE tofu.  I thought it was gross because it broke easily and had no taste.  I didn’t eat any tofu between the ages of three and 12.  While I didn’t refuse anything made WITH tofu, I would pick it out if I saw it.  At age 12, I ate something with tofu in it, without realizing that I hadn’t picked it out.  And I enjoyed it.  Boom!  Mind changed.

Some say that minds can’t always be changed, and that there are people who just have a natural rejection to certain foods.  That may very well be true, but unless there are health or religious/ cultural reasons, why not at least give it a try before condemning it.  These very picky people just don’t want to try anything new and it gives meal planners a raging headache just to accommodate them.  So, next time when you are invited to a dinner party and if you’re served something you don’t like, try it anyway just to be polite.  Or maybe politeness isn’t a cool thing to do these days?