Getting over being a "picky eater"

Daledge

All my life I've been a nightmare to cook for,
(mums words) living off mainly chicken and mash potato. I was always terrible for brushing off tasting new things assuming I won't like them.
Turned 20 recently and not much has changed, although I've branched off to a couple of different meats, fruits and veg but still very plain and basic. In my own opinion it's getting quite frustrating as it can be quite embarrasing going out for dinner and getting everything plain. However I'm getting myself back into the gym soon after a two (possibly three) year sabbatical and figured now is as good a time as any to try and change. I understand it's a weird question but have any of you guys got any tips on how to get over it, other than "just try it" cause I've told myself that a thousand times and doesn't seem to work?

Thanks in advance

Alf Veedersane

Is there anything common to the foods you decide you don't like?

Daledge

I hate to say it, but basically anything with too much flavour. I just seem to prematurely decide that I won't like the flavour. The only sauce I'd put on my dinner would be gravy, and that's even at a push.

helimachoptor

Daledge wrote: »

I hate to say it, but basically anything with too much flavour. I just seem to prematurely decide that I won't like the flavour. The only sauce I'd put on my dinner would be gravy, and that's even at a push.

tbh im not a great sauce person either, and similar to you in my early 20's i had a very restricted diet, i only had rice for the first time @ 26 and noodles at 29.. :eek:

For me its not so flavour, but the foods consistency.. blind tasting and lots of it worked for me

Daledge

Hadn't thought of blind tasting. That could help..

musicfan1ie

Hey OP, I used to be picky. Now would eat most things.

Overtime your taste buds get used to different tastes. I used to get sick when I ate something "exotic" like tomato sauces or even red onions in sandwiches. I was 20 and had never tried pasta, rice and when I did I had a reaction with the sauces.

For pasta dishes, I was encouraged to try cheese based sauces (not tomato). Generally they are one or the other. Simple packaged pesto pasta from Dunnes Stores. Got used to the texture of pasta overtime and liked the sauce. So now I love pasta and many different sauces

For say rice dishes, I always like simple chicken curry. So I'd use McDonnells Curry sauce with plain simple rice and plain chicken. I loved all 3 together and got me used to rice and some sauces. Overtime I branched out into different sauces and different meats. This will help you enjoy Asian cooking over time.

Key bit is to keep it simple initially and as you discover your likes dislikes, you can adapt it later. If you try too much too soon, you might convince yourself you don't like that type of food.

For restaurant visits with mates, I tried to have a default dish I knew I'd like like steak, burgers, simple Indian meal, Chinese etc so that I could eat something