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 ....
