Tuesday, June 21, 2011

food quirks ...

My eating habits are often critiqued by the people around me.

Some people think I don't eat enough (trust me I do). Some people can't understand why I don't eat "meat with feet" (I'm a pescatarian and I choose not eat meat with feet because I don't believe you need it to fuel properly and I've never been that big of a fan). Others think I'm crazy when I tell them I haven't had alcohol in seven years ( I just don't like the taste). And occasionally, people get on my case when they see how I control what my kids eat ("You get what you get and you don't throw a fit" is the law around here. But, they get their fair share of junk, too).

Most of the time, I ignore these comments. I don't let other people's opinions dictate the way I live. But, as I was digging every last piece of red onion out of my salad the other day, I realized I do have *some* food quirks. And I'm OK with that. In fact, I'm pretty sure I am not alone ...
  1. As a child, I refused to eat any food that had touched something else on the plate. I was not a fan of contamination. I have grown out of this to some extent, but I really detest when sauces mix or when they get on items they are not meant for.
  2. I eat my food off my plate in a clockwise pattern. I start at 12 o'clock and work my way around.
  3. I will not touch raw meat. Just the thought of it makes me throw up in my mouth a little.
  4. I do not like raw onion and will pick out every piece. But I will eat cooked onions, except if they are red.
  5. I will put hot sauce on anything. Eggs, couscous, popcorn, sandwiches, vegetables, cheese. Like I said, anything.
  6. I did not like coffee until I was pregnant with Dilly. Then I craved it. Now, I drink at least half a pot every day.
  7. In high school, I ate a Burger King Bacon Double Cheeseburger with extra ketchup and pickles, fries and Dr. Pepper every single day during the school week. I also weighed 70 pounds more than I do now. Shocking, right? Now, just looking at the Burger King logo is enough to make me nauseous.
  8. I am a creature of habit. I could eat the same three meals every single day and not complain. The only reason that my home cooking is more diversified than that is I am concerned that J would get bored if I ALWAYS made what I felt like eating.
  9. In college, I was known to make a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, load it up with hot sauce and eat the entire thing in one sitting.
  10. I once ate 7/8 of a Carvel Smiley Face Ice Cream cake at one time because my dorm room didn't have a freezer. And because it tasted really good.
  11. I often try to trick my guests into eating "meat substitutes" when they visit. No one has ever called me out on it, but I think they are just trying to be nice.
  12. I used to be a far pickier eater. Although I will eat pretty much anything now, I used to *think* I knew exactly what I liked. Thus, when I was in England, I ate tons of Subway cheese sandwiches with pickles and yellow mustard, for no other reason than I thought everything else was gross.
  13. Lobster is my all-time favorite food. It is the only thing keeping me from becoming a vegetarian, rather than a pescatarian.
  14. I will try anything once. If I don't like it, I can almost guarantee I will never try it again.
  15. I love eggs, and usually eat 6-8 egg whites with lunch. But, I hate quiche. It might be my least favorite meal. No, it's second to liver and onions.
  16. I've always told J to "forget the flowers, and buy me a box of donuts instead."
  17. I will not eat raw broccoli.
  18. I almost never eat dessert while my kids are awake. Part of the reason is that I don't want them to think dessert is an everyday thing AND I often see dessert as my reward for making it through the day and it just tastes better when it's quiet.
  19. I was the only child I knew who ate snails and frog legs on a regular basis. And I'm one of the few adults I know, that would jump at the opportunity to now (I would probably break my "meat with feet" rule for some frog legs).
  20. I will not eat the ends of a loaf of bread. It grosses me out.
  21. I refuse to share my food. It's mine. But I will happily sample yours.
  22. I used to view food differently. Before I ran, I saw it as something you celebrated with, enjoyed and indulged in. Now, I know it can be all those things, but more importantly, it fuels me. And I want to be fueled well. Otherwise, my running is going to suck. And I'm not OK with that. Plus, I want to be a good example for my kids. I want them to see food as fuel, first and foremost.
What are your food quirks?

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40 comments:

UltraMamaC said...

heh.. I can't eat a sandwich once it's been in a sandwich bag. Bananas have to be perfectly ripe - no brown spots, no green tips. NO milk in cereal - I eat it dry in a cup. Only eat pinto beans totally smashed & pureed but can eat black beans whole. My list is long, long, long and yours makes total sense to me, too!! ;)

Running Ricig said...

Yep, I definitely have some of the same quirks and I'm going to steal your line about not eating meat with feet, because it's awesome.

MCM Mama said...

You make me seem so normal LOL. ;o)

Rachel said...

I am definitely food quirky too. You don't know how much better I feel about your half a pot of coffee a day. And I don't eat dessert in front of my girls because I don't want to share. Yep. I said it. I hate to share food.

Laura said...

I am a veggie lover but hate broccoli. Hate.it. I really dislike quinoa as well...I have tried to like it but that nutty flavour just grosses me out for some reason.

Anonymous said...

I have some of the same quirks as you do - eating clockwise, not eating the ends of a bread loaf. I'm completely different than you and think seafood is just disgusting, especially lobster.

Null said...

I'm totally on board with #8 and #16. I'll try anything once, but I tend to stick with the same old favorites on a daily basis.

Glad to hear you've branched out form your cheese sandwhiches with mustard :)

Courtney @ I CAN DO THIS said...

#21 is a really good summary.
I completely identify with the first part (plus, something to do when bored).
So how did you make the shift to be the way you are now?
I know the second part is true, but I can't make myself change the behavior.

Unknown said...

Okay now I understand what a pescatarian is. Explain to me what you would call a person who won't eat anything that "flies or swims"?

Anonymous said...

I was an extremely picky child and mom catered to me... which is why my kids have the same rule - you get what you get and you don't throw a fit. I had to teach myself to eat veggies... and I do eat a lot of them now.

I'm with you on sauces touching... I've been known to take a napkin to wipe up excess goo so it doesn't touch the other food item.

I also eat one item at a time. I'll eat all my veggies, then all my potatoes, etc.

I would be content with grilled chicken, grilled zucchini, and sweet potatoes every single night for dinner and PB&J every day for lunch.

I hate raw onions too... love them cooked. Mushrooms and olives... I just hate all the time.

I also like to eat after kids are in bed... and often save my lunch for naptime so I can enjoy it in peace.

ajh said...

There are many of these I love but especially 16! I was always a very picky eater and my parents were shocked when I came home from college first break eating lobster and steamed clams. I hate to share food and don't like it when waiters assume I am going to share my dessert with my husband and bring that second utensil. But I LOVE the heels of a good bread loaf.

Your in laws live in a beautiful area. I am going to do a race in RI on July 9 in Narragansett. It is a 7 miler. If you're up there visiting race it!

Anonymous said...

Oh, the food items not touching others is a biggie in our house too! Gosh, I may not be as picky an eater as I thought, but I do have a thing about sharing cups/bottles- even with family members.

amy said...

I think I have the opposite food quirks to you! I love mixing food on my plate. I only like the ends of bread loaves. I hate eggs, especially the slimy egg whites.

Interesting that everyone has their own "deal" with food. I do agree, however, the food is fuel, especially when running :)

Kurt @ Becoming An Ironman said...

1. I heard on the radio last night that Burger King is now offering the Whopper on their breakfast menu. One more reason never to touch fast food again!

2. Doesn't Lobster have legs?

3. I'm with ya' on the ice cream cake!!

4. I love the smell of coffee, but hate the taste.

Michelle said...

16 is hilarious! Love it - although I'm an ice cream kind of girl!

I'm with you on 1-3. I had divided plates as a kid b/c it just made it easier on my mom. Dad Wonder loves shepherd's pie, but it just makes me want to gag!

I refuse to eat anything with a bone. Chicken wings, ribs, drumsticks - for some reason I think it is barbaric to eat like that.

I have lots of food quirks, but that is enough for one day. :)
Thanks for the vote!

Katye said...

i loved the "chicken" pasta would made when I was there!

Pam @ herbieontherun.com said...

This list cracked me up. I am sitting here trying to think of a food quirk I have, and I am coming up totally empty-handed! I will eat pretty much anything EXCEPT seafood. I just can't get past the smell. It smells like... well... FISH. However, my husband has a ton of them. We got into a tiff in the grocery store the other day because I asked him what he wanted me to cook for supper that week. He was all, "I don't know, what do you want?" I snapped back that it didn't matter what I wanted because he wouldn't eat what I want anyway. It is so dang aggravating trying to cook around his mile-long list of dislikes. Or I guess more accurately I should call it his mile-long list of won't-trys.

Rene' said...

I am loving this...my husband would laugh too.
1. I used to love lobster until I got pregnant, now I can't even put it in my mouth.
2. I do not like anything to touch on my plate and I eat one thing at a time.
3. I refuse to eat salad with dressing on it. I am a dipper. (forkful, dip, bite...) My MIL drenches everything in Italian and it drives me CRAZY!!!!
4. I can't touch chicken and rarely eat it...long story.
Great post today. Isn't it nice to realize that you are not as quirky as you thought you were.

Anonymous said...

I can't eat anything with slimy texture. Pudding, jello, runny mashed potatoes, yogurt, all make me gag.

I have to eat pickles at room temperature.

I don't like fruit flavored anything unless made with real fruit. Banana bread is ok, banana pudding is not.


Oh and I don't like more than one flavor in a milkshake. Chocolate or vanilla. None of this banana/chocolate nonsense.

Anonymous said...

I can't eat anything with slimy texture. Pudding, jello, runny mashed potatoes, yogurt, all make me gag.

I have to eat pickles at room temperature.

I don't like fruit flavored anything unless made with real fruit. Banana bread is ok, banana pudding is not.


Oh and I don't like more than one flavor in a milkshake. Chocolate or vanilla. None of this banana/chocolate nonsense.

Marlene said...

Fun post!

I was soooo picky as a kid, it wasn't even funny. I'm pretty sure the only vegetables I ate were iceberg lettuce, corn and cucumbers (or is that a fruit?) - I especially hated mushrooms and onions. Now I eat any and all vegetables.

You and your hot sauce is pretty much like me with my ketchup. I love that stuff.

I generally haaaaaaate seafood, especially shellfish. Blech. BUT I love fish if it is fresh from the lake, i.e. on a camping trip.

I am super paranoid about undercooked meat and almost always overcook it. Now hubs is in charge, but I always ask at least a dozen times "Are you sure this is done?"

And I have suddenly developed a severe intolerance or allergy to BANANAS. I am outraged!!!

Christy @ My Dirt Road Anthem: A Runner's Blog said...

Wow you have a lot of food quirks! I hate quiche too and I love eggs. Raw onions should never be allowed in food, too gross!

Runners Fuel said...

My brother eats his food clockwise. He won't touch the other food until he's finish what he strated. Hubs puts hot sauce on everything!! I am such a picky eater!!

Katie said...

I am not even going to tell you how many of your food quirks I also have. Food is weird.

Anonymous said...

"As a child, I refused to eat any food that had touched something else on the plate."

When my sister was little, she would cry if one food touched another...

Beth said...

Um, I still make a box of kraft mac and cheese, douse it in hot sauce and eat the whole thing for dinner. yum.

Karen said...

I have some of the same quirks... The alcohol thing for the same reason, I just don't like the taste. I always feel that people think it is weird as though I have a moral objection to it. I don't. I simply just don't like it. I do the clockwise thing too, I eat all of one thing before I move on to the next, saving my favorite for last which can be a bad thing because if you are full at that point... I also sort M&M (skittles, whatever) by color before I eat them. Almost like therapy getting that off my chest ;)

giraffy said...

1. I also can't have my food touching. It freaks me out.

2. And, I eat clockwise, one food at a time.

3. I used to love mayo. Now, the smell of it makes me want to puke.

4. Ever since I was pregnant with #2, the smell of spaghetti makes me gag. Unless I'm cooking it, in which case it's fine.

LB said...

oh, i have lots of food quirks too. i eat in clockwise pattern too, dont like my food to touch, and like to finish each item in the meal at the same time, leaving the best item for last (hard to explain). i eat my sandwichs backwards, eating the top crust last always, and finish a standard size sanwhich in 9 bites exactly. i cut my waffles in three pieces per quarter, two triangles and one square. ok, i think thats enough, i have proven i have a mental illness!

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

I wouldn't touch or eat any red meat for years. I grew up on a dairy farm. We had about 15 Midnight's (Name of our black cow) Little did I know that it was a New Midnight each year!

The smell of whole milk can make me barf.

No matter how good something tastes if it has a "funny" texture I'll spit it out and never eat it again.

I could eat the same things every day too. Not the healthiest plan.

I don't eat or drink anything before my morning runs.

I eat my dessert (when I rarely have it) after the kids are in bed because I don't want to share. just being honest.

When I have ice cream I scoop it into my bowl, mix it up and put it back in the freezer to get hard again. Then eat it later.

I eat the ends of bread on my sandwich but refuse to use both at one time.

I like my M&Ms heated. (think putting them on the top of a toaster oven)

I will eat any vegetable and have been know to forget to include anything else in my meal planning.

I can go without diet soda easily because I refuse to pay more than a $1 a 2 liter. But when I have it I can easily drink a 2 liter bottle in two evenings by myself.

Oh this list is long and we haven't even scratched this iceberg!! How do people put up with me?? ;-)

Andi Fitz said...

This post was funny to me because I share a lot of your same food quirks. I hate onions and will pick every single one out as well, I won't touch raw meat, I'm awful at sharing food, but good at sampling other's, I love the smell of coffee, but hate the taste, I've never had alcohol, and I'm also a creature of habit. My food loves go in cycles. I'll eat the same thing every day for weeks or months, and then switch it up. I don't do that on purpose, but when I find something I love, that's all I want!

SupermomE13 said...

Fun post! I with you the raw onions... mostly because they upset my stomach. You would fit RIGHT IN around here with the hot sauce... I am not a fan but my kids put it on EVERYTHING. Literally. We go through vats of it.

I don't have too many food quirks, although i am careful about what I put in my mouth and make sure any treats "count" and are worth the calories. I love love love seafood of all kinds. I could leave candy chocolate, sweets, etc. with no going back, but could NEVER give up bread and potatoes. Meat I can take it or leave it. :)

Alanna said...

- I could eat pasta every night and never get bored by it.
- I refuse to eat avocado unless it's in sushi.
- I think that zucchini and eggplant are revolting, but pretty sure it's a texture thing.
- I love quiche, but will not eat souffle. That stems from not finishing it when I was a kid and still having to eat it even though it was cold.
- I like cheddar, mozzarella and jack cheese (and an English one I can never remember the name of), but the other types aren't for me. Colin teases me about this one and tries to make me eat other ones without me knowing.
- My mum tricked us into eating veggie "meat" in her regular chili. It was actually better than her beef version so it's stuck around.
- #9: Yes. Minus the hot sauce, add lots of pepper.

Colin's quirk: bananas have to be perfect, but he still won't eat the last bite because of the brown stuff inside.

Caroline said...

oh I have lots
I eat the same thing every day for all 3 meals

I don't eat fat...well as much as I can avoid it..it is not 100% of course. if something comes fat free I will take that. but I do eat some cheese and it does have fat in it of course.

I dont like onions, garlic and tomatoes oh and ALL beans.


I don't drink alcohol ever
I do drink coffee even thougb I have GERD..very stupid but I do.

I dont let my kids eat fruit snacks. yes I am the worst mother in the world (according to them anyway)

as a kid I once declared I did not like WATER! I got over it. Now that is pretty much all I drink.

I don't drink sodas. same for my kids.

Everyone says I dont eat enough. I give them the evil eye when they say it to my face.

I bring my own food when we to friends houses for parties because I will not eat pizza or cheeseburgers, ect.

see I am nuts
a lot of this has to do with health issues in my defense

Jessica (Pace of Me) said...

o my gosh, great post. my list of food quirks would be at least as long as yours is, and many of them are the same (yuck to red/raw onion especially!). i'm glad to know i'm not the only one! my husband will literally eat A N Y T H I N G so sometimes it is tough around here. thankfully he gets to eat lunch at work every day and have foods i would never go near!

Anonymous said...

I often don't eat things because "I think I won't" like them. I have to force myself to try new things and sometimes I'm right but more often than not I end up liking said food. I'm an extremely picky eater and it contributes to my weight problems. Sad but true.

N.D. said...

I love this post. Everything thinks I'm so weird about eating. Basically I don't eat meat or fish and eat lots of veggies, beans, nuts and fruit and grains. I read the part about craving coffee when pregnant and that happened to me too. I'm not hooked yet - baby girl will be 1 and I've drank more coffee this past year then in the last 30 but haven't totally got hooked! As far as my kids eating, I'm concerned about pre-school and school settings where they see crap food and get into it and ask for it.

Anabela (Bela) Neves said...

We are all weird aren't we.....LOL

I will not eat ripe bananas, just the smell makes me puke so as soon as they get too ripe I put them in the freezer and I make banana bread, that I can eat.

I hate red meat, yuck.

I refuse to ever step food in the evil fast food joints. Yes my child does not have McD's (many people I know think that's crazy), or Burger King or arby's, none of those. That is not food!

Twila said...

1. Nothing that swims; the smell alone kills me
2. I eat dessert every day to some degree; something sweet after every meal and I was not smart enough to keep that from my son : (
3. While I eat I figure out what my "last bite" will be and end up my meal with that or the meal does not feel complete
4. I rarely eat left overs
5. Once it has been in my house it is old and I will not eat it
6. I did not eat mustard until I was pregnant
7. I do not drink cokes

My list could go on and on : ) I am super weird about eating! I also could (and usually do) eat the same most days!

Rose @ Eat, Drink, and Be Meiri said...

I don't have any major food quirks that I know of. I loathe onions, and will not eat anything that touches onions. Except salsa. For reasons unknown, I cannot taste onions when they are in salsa.