So, I'm sure that my family and Derek might say differently but I don't get stressed easily. It takes a huge amount of one thing or many things to stress me out. The only thing that both Derek and I could actually come up with that stresses me out is my issues with food and not wanting to talk about it.
For those who don't know me that well, I have food issues. Really bad food issues! I have always been a finicky eater and for some bizarre reason people like to point out that I am a picky eater. Please tell me something that I don't know instead of pointing the obvious. Going out to eat is a pure headache because everybody tries to have me pick out a restaurant when in reality I would much rather make something at home. I worked in the food industry for about 7 years and I am just not a fan of dining out.
I'm not sure why I am such a picky eater maybe it is a fear of the taste and textures of different foods. Yes, those really are defined phobias as well as hypersensitivity disorders. Maybe I just have selective eating disorder. Any which way there is something there that hinders my ability to try new foods (seafood will never be on the try list though) even when I am feeling in a good mood of wanting to try something.
A common misconception that people have about me and my picky eating is that I don't know how to cook anything other than what I eat. Oh those who believe this are so very wrong! I am actually a great cook. I love to experiment with new recipes for Derek to try out. Coincidentally the only thing that Derek has not liked so far that I have made was an apple pie where I used store bought crust to save on time... will not do that again because apparently the crust was incredibly gross. I am fairly good at reading ingredients and knowing which ones would go well together and which ones might be a little different.
Some things that people should NOT say to a picky eater are:
- Just try it. You don't know if you don't like it if you won't try it. (Sometimes, it isn't the trying the food but a fear behind trying the food even if they think they will like it. Sounds nuts but it is true.)
- Where do you want to go to eat? (Honestly, most picky eaters will eat before or after going out to eat so everybody else can eat as well.)
- How can you not like insert food? It is SO delicious! (Doesn't matter if somebody else thinks it is delicious or not.)
- Wow, so you know how to cook. (Doesn't matter if the picky one is eating it or not, some people just like to cook.)
- Are you still a picky eater? (Really?)
- What do you (or don't you) eat? (Why? Are you planning on becoming a nutritionist who works with picky eaters?)
I find this very interesting, Missy. I understand more clearly much of what you have shared and applaud you for your honesty. There is another side of the coin that I feel must be addressed, as well, though and that is simply--the majority of people are not knowingly trying to make you uncomfortable. It's a free world and people (adults) are able to make decisions based on likes and dislikes. Nobody has a right to "force" food onto someone, because when it all comes down to it, there are very few people who don't struggle somewhat with a food issue of some kind (i.e. overeating, undereating, addiction to junk foods, sweets, etc.) What IS perplexing to me is that we have all been raised to "think" so much about food to begin with. In my opinion, it is simply fuel for our bodies to function and it's a free world, eat what you want :) No judging on this end...hang in there as well :)
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