Confessions of a Fussy Eater!!

Pretty much everyone has certain foods or drink that they dislike, and refuse to eat. However, I fit into the category of the Fussy Eater, and I don't (as far as I know) have any allergies as an excuse.

I have never worked out why I am so fussy. I have a few theories though; firstly although not officiially confirmed, I do think I have some form of anxiety, and therefore as a child particularly, I was too scared to try new foods and drinks in the fear of not liking it or worrying it would make me throw up. Secondly, perhaps my body was rejecting the taste as a sign it shouldn't be in my system - although this theory could be wrong considering the rejection would include vegetables, which are in fact good for you.

With a fussy person/child, DO NOT FORCE them to eat foods they really refuse to eat, ask them, but do not force them. It will make them even less likely to like the food, plus it will make the resent you, and distrust you. It is best to let people like this try the foods in their own time; sometimes it is best to leave a tiny bit on the side of their plate for them to try when they feel like it/if at all. I was forced once as a child to eat some peas by my Uncle, even though I kept refusing, and had eaten the rest of my meal; he wouldn't stop going on about it, which is why such a small incident has probably stayed with me. I got very upset, although I did eventually try one just to stop him from going on and on, and guess what?! I didn't like, an still don't like them - and he probably made me like them even less. I know his heart was in the right place, and that he was trying to get me to be healthier, but it was certainly not the right way to go about it.

The myths aren't true either, I have heard a few wife's tales about getting fussy eaters to eat more or new foods, but the ones I have tried so far are not true. The one that sticks in my mind the most is: "by the 13th time you try that food, you will like it". I have tried make things more than 13 times, and still cannot stand the taste of them, including things like peas and mayonaise. And I am not talking about trying it 13 times in one period, I mean over a period of time. For me it just hasn't worked.

Most of us fussy eaters are not trying to be fussy for the sake of it; I do generally wish I liked everything - it would make my life a heck of a lot easier, but it is just the way I am unfortunately. It would make my life so much easier when it comes to going to friends houses - where my mum used to sometimes have to tell their parents beforehand, and make sure they made something I did like - often I wouldn't go to a friend's house, just to I could avoid the awkwardness, or out of fear that they'll make something I really didn't like - I didn't want to appear rude or stuck up by not eating it; even now I still wish it would be a lot easier going abroad, but there are still many things I don't like such as fish - and other cultures have a vast variety foods, and also going to restaurants can be a pain occasionally, as some don't have anything that I would like, often the case with the more fancier places - an awkward situation if the meal is for work, a birthday, a celebration and so on.

In most case we will get better, and like more things. It is hard for me to believe that at least ten years ago I never ate pizza (because of the tomato puree bit), but now I am obsessed with it, if anything probably too much. Come five years ago the only vegetable I would eat (other than potato) was carrots, and that was only if I felt like it. Now in a roast I eat carrots, parsnips, sweed; and in other meals I eat cooked pepper and onion; and then lettuce in a sandwich.

Of course, there are still many things I do not like, and some I probably never will, such as mayonaise. <Yuck!>

To be honest I thing it is absolutely ridiculous for fussy eaters like me to be ashamed and discouraged for being so fussy! If this is our only life, I do not want to be living it eating foods I hate the taste of, therefore making me feel sick, and/or getting me down. I would rather be happy eating the foods I do like, and make up for the lack of healthiness with the few healthy items I do like, supplements, and lots of excercise.

Let me know what you think on the matter.

xox L xox

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