And how great is it that Krista told me today's topic is one that everyone has an opinion about: What Is Your Biggest Pet Peeve?
Well! Can I pick more than one??? I've got a couple of contenders for that top spot!
No? Oh ... okay.
Then without further ado, here 'tis -- my chosen pet peeve:
PICKY EATERS!!!
I don't mean people who have health concerns or religious considerations -- these I can respect. But people who simply choose not to eat certain things ... oh, man!!! I could rave on for days about this one ... but I promise that I won't.
I have known people who do each of the following:
- who won't eat anything that's orange
- who will eat tomatoes in pizza or pasta sauce, but can't eat them raw
- who will only eat meat -- no vegetables, fruits, breads, nothin'
- who will eat spaghetti, but none of the other pasta shapes
- who don't like mustard or mayonnaise
- who will look at a plate of food and tell you "I don't like this" before they even taste it.
What are your own stories? Do tell!!!
I read recently that as the mental health "bible" -- the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) -- is being updated, there is talk of "picky eating" being classified as a form of eating disorder or OCD ... hmmm. I don't think it's deserving of the status of "mental illness." I think it's merely an annoyance ... a colossal annoyance, I admit, but only an annoyance.
When Jeremy was younger, one of his friends (who shall remain nameless out of courtesy) would take the cheese off of pizza. He refused to eat whole wheat bread. He wouldn't eat bologna or hot dogs. He wouldn't eat cherries or blueberry muffins. I ended up serving the same meal every time he came over: Kraft macaroni and cheese. That was it. That was all he would eat ... groan.
As far as my opinionated self is concerned, everyone should have the same attitude about food that I do: It's fun! It's an adventure! Try it, you'll like it! After all, how would any of us know we liked chocolate cake if we hadn't tried it???
And please -- if you know someone who doesn't like chocolate cake, just don't let me know. It would break my heart ....
Mr. Groom has that deal with tomatoes. He says its the texture.
ReplyDeleteI'm not big on mayo but I won't complain if its used in something. I just would prefer my sandwiches without it.
I am already a follower, Congrats!!
ReplyDeletenew follower from Admirer Monday! Would love for you to come visit me at my blog!
ReplyDeleteHazel
http://www.critiqueoftheunique.blogspot.com
This is a great post. I live in a family with "mental illness" i.e. crazy food annoyances. My husband does not eat raw tomato, but will eat it cooked. When I met him his list also included avocado, baked beans, asparagus, peas. I have converted him so far to peas and asparagus, although he still doesn't like the way it makes his wee smell :-)
ReplyDeleteHe gets this from his father, who is the spaghetti man you mentioned. He says the other shapes are "too chewy". He won't eat yoghurt, honey, sweetcorn, red peppers, white bread.
Oh, and my daughter doesn't like chocolate cake.
Some of those kind of make sense (e.g. the tomatoes) but basing your food choices on colour or shape...?! That's disturbing.
ReplyDeleteI'm vegetarian, but within that limitation, I'll try anything once (and enjoy most of it).
That cake looks really good! I'm visiting from Admirer Monday. I already follow you.
ReplyDeleteHave you read any of my blog posts about my Picky Eater? She won't eat broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, chicken, steak, fish, mustard, homemade macaroni and cheese!, or chocolate cake. She hates chocolate cake.
ReplyDeleteThere's more she won't eat...I just don't have the time or mental fitness to type them all out.
Ok, I thought I was a picky eater, until I read your blog, now I don't think that I'm such a picky eater, there are just things I don't particularly like as much as other things :)
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate cake and that really is all that matters anyway!!
Vegetarians and vegans, as well as folks who have health or religious considerations, are not on my naughty list; people who randomly and arbitrarily discriminate against innocent foods -- and then expect others to accommodate their whims -- are the ones who give me grey hair. Even if something isn't a favorite food (and even *I* have lesser choices despite mostly being an omnivore) I expect people to be polite and eat what's in front of them; so I guess, perhaps, it's not so much the picky eaters that annoy me as it is the picky eaters who kvetch about their food!
ReplyDeleteMy heart breaks for those of you who've listed so many taboo items! No homemade mac 'n' cheese? No white bread?? No chocolate cake?!?!? OY!!!
As a picky eater myself (I'm working on reforming, honestly!), I'd definitely say it's not a mental disorder... it's just super annoying, even to the picky eater. Hence my trying really hard to break the pickiness. Now anyone who looks at that chocolate cake and doesn't want to dive in head first? Nuts!
ReplyDeletei also have a problem with picky eaters. people won't eat an item based on color or other looks. that's crazy.
ReplyDeleteHILARIOUS POST! I have a cousin that WILL NOT try anything new or different, eats no fruits or veggies, hates pizza and spaghetti (and we're all italian!)...it's ANNOYING!! No picky eaters in our house-if they don't like it, they don't eat! Sounds harsh, but I want them to make sure they find many healthy foods that taste great!
ReplyDeleteHa ha, I went through a phase where I wouldn't eat anything that was orange! I also don't like raw tomatoes unless they are literally fresh off the vine, but I love sauces and such :)
ReplyDeleteYou should meet my husband...he won't eat most vegetables and if we are at someone's house, he won't even try some to be polite...he just ignores it.
I totally agree. By the way... I'm a new follower. http://moogieland.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteHi! I'm a new follower via Admire Monday
ReplyDeletehttp://shining2save.blogspot.com
Uh-oh...I am that tomato person but not to the extent that if someone has prepared something w/ tomatoes I won't eat them...I just won't put them on sandwiches, burgers, stuff I make etc.
ReplyDeleteOK my food pet peeve is "smooshers". People who, before they even take a bite of anything on their plate smoosh it all together. I've dined with a few of these and it just grosses me out.
Well, I don't like mustard or mayonnaise, and I don't even like ketchup! Ha! My hamburgers come with pickles and cheese only!
ReplyDeleteI have a 13 year old cousin who's mom still makes him pb&j when they come for family dinners, because he's so picky. I swear he only eats pb&j, pasta with no sauce, and pickled beets. What a strange combo!
I eat anything...not picky at all...even sushi....but now that I am dieting (again) I sit here reading blogs alongside my cottage cheese and blueberries for lunch...after cooking for 8 people who are now all grown and out of the house, I now have 6 grandsons who are the picky eaters....since I no longer cook that much, except for holidays, their choices are simple, - sandwiches or cereal...and all are doing fine...now, the picture of the chocolate cake on your blog is calling me....excuse me, got to go bake.....
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started getting migraines I tried the Eat Right for Your Type diet. I believe that I would feel better if I could eat it 100%. However, I don't have the willpower to stick to it (for the rest of my life) or the money. It costs so much more to eat better. And right now my parents are buying the food and they are living on a shoestring, so... Anyway, I just don't eat the things I am pretty confident that I am allergic to and suck up the rest. As far as the cake... I like chocolate cake, but my favorite will always be yellow cake with chocolate icing. I know.. some people!
ReplyDeleteVery funny. Not one of my pet peeves, but enjoyed your spin.
ReplyDeleteHello! I am from Admirer Monday! I love your blog! When you get a chance could you swing by my blog's and follow me back ? Thanks!
ReplyDeletehttp://xiicepinkix.blogspot.com/
http://xiicepinkix69.blogspot.com/
Pet Peeves ... my main one: gum chewing (ugh).
ReplyDeleteI am the tomato person you speak of - love them cooked, can't do the raw :(
My daughter doesn't do mayo or mustard ... she doesn't really complain if it's mixed in with something - but she eats her sandwiches dry and burgers with ketchup. I can live with that.
Great Post!
This is a great blog! I'm following via MFM and looking forward to reading more!
ReplyDeleteSheena @ diapersfullofblarney.com
you lost me as soon as you showed that piece of cake, I lost my train of thought....wow....
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the food, and most people its because they just wont try it or had a bad experience 20 years ago..
my biggest pet peeve is at work, people come into my kitchen never say hello, or when they bring someone in to eat (for Free) they don't even have the courtesy to introduce them....
Don't hat me Mary but I hate Mayo but I love mustard. I could drink it.
ReplyDeleteI think they are coming up with these disorders to give people an excuse for how they act. To make them feel better. Never mind what I would like to call it.
Food Floozie. Love that name!
ReplyDeleteI'm your newest follower. Can't wait to try some of these recipes out!
Lisa
Following from Meet Me Monday
Hi. Following you from Admirer Monday. hope you could follow me back.
ReplyDeleteYou might want to visit my foodie blog too...
http://butterfly-kusinako.blogspot.com
Great post, Mary. I love to try new things! I have always been told I was allergic to fish and seafood. I recently decided to get tested and guess what -- I'm not! :) I'm having a great time tasting all sorts of fish and seafood for the very first time.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest pet peeve? It drives me crazy when I hear excuses rather than honesty. Why do people make up excuses for things when it is easy to see through them? Why don't we just be honest about our feelings and the reasons we do or don't do things? :)
Guess I shouldn't tell you but my hubby ABHORS chocolate cake! Especially with chocolate frosting!
ReplyDeleteAnd I (oh the horror) am a somewhat picky eater. I HATE (cannot emphasize the word strongly enough) beans in any and all forms. (starchy beans) I can tell even if they're hidden in a casserole or soup and they gag me. EVERY SINGLE TIME!
And Josiah was the pickiest eater I have ever known. No blended foods, no touching foods, etc. And we always ordered him a pizza without sauce.
Do you still love me?