Confessions of a Picky Eater

My husband would be the first one to tell you that I’m impossible in the kitchen. Spices? What are those? My husband is from the south. He seasons everything! I don’t even use salt and pepper unless a recipe calls for it. Opposites attract, right?

I have never been adventurous with food. As the oldest of five, I should have learned to cook. I resisted whole heartedly like it was my job and became an self-described awful cook.

Lack of Adventure

As a picky eater, I struggle with trying new foods. I also don’t want to waste money on food that I don’t know if I will like it. In August 2019, we flew to Seoul, South Korea to visit my husband while he was stationed there. It was quite the experienced for my taste buds. Talk about experience overload!

Join the Adventure

Try new foods is a struggle! I am trying but it’s hard. During my journey to a healthier me, food plans are always the hardest as I’m scared to try new foods. Here is what I have learned along my journey.

• Take the adventure and try new foods. If you are like me, having back-up food is always good, especially if you are doing timed nutrition or have nutritional needs that must be met.
• It’s the little things. You don’t need to make big changes. You can add variety by changing up the spices that you use or the side dishes that you incorporate.
• Pick easy recipes. When adding new recipes to your meal plan, stick with something easy. If it’s complex, you may get frustrated before you even try the meal.
• Improvise. What do you have in the pantry or fridge? Can you improvise a meal if you have a meal that doesn’t turn out? These have been life savers for me when I have prepared a disaster instead of an edible meal.
• Challenge yourself. Try to get adventurous without doing it completely scared. Can you commit to one new meal a week, maybe one a month?

Life Changes

In 2020, I did an elimination diet to figure out what my body was reacting to. I eliminated all 7 major food allergens at once. It was so hard for me! During those two months, I was eating the same thing over and over while I slowly adding back in the different foods. I learned of my gluten allergy and having to go gluten free permanently has been challenging. I had to relearn how to cook.

My nutrition is more in tune to what my body needs but I am still extremely picky. I’ve had to ignore how something is labeled if it was something that I could eat. By the way, chick pea noodles are amazing but I never tried them before because I never had a chick pea before 2020. Crazy, I know but that’s how picky I am.

Word of advice, don’t be like me. Be adventurous and try new foods. Expanding out of our comfort level in all areas of life is challenging. I am still working on it. If you are a picky eater, I hope you’ll join my challenge and incorporate a new recipe to your routine at least once a month. Who knows, you might find a new favorite!