# One more "eating stuff you don't like" thread. This time with a poll. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 26, 2016, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741 "2016-05-26T14:45:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/21 "2016-05-26T23:30:24Z")
I went with “mostly no,” thought I lean heavily toward “nope.” I’m a fussy eater and there are a lot of things I just plain don’t like. I’ll be as gracious as I can and eat whatever I can manage, but I have a really hard time choking down the stuff I just plain don’t like. My friends are used to me by now, the in-laws are pretty much meat-and-potatoes folks, and that about covers the non-spouse people I’m likely to eat with. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/22 "2016-05-26T23:37:49Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Luckily there are only three foods I don’t like: coconut, coffee, and beer. They’re easily avoided. Just for [you](http://nodabrewing.com/beer/coco-loco/) ;). ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/23 "2016-05-26T23:47:18Z")
One social skill my mother drilled into me was to be able to eat what a host(ess) served me. Take the smallest portion, eat just a few bites, mess it around on the plate, and eat a lot of whatever else was being served, something you liked. This stood me in good stead when I was served gefilte fish. But the challah was EXCELLENT, and I speak professionally, as a baker. I’d never been to an Orthodox Sabbath dinner. They were nice people, I had a good time and learned a lot. But that fish, urk. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/24 "2016-05-27T00:00:51Z")
The last time I ate something I disliked out of politeness, a few years ago, I discovered that I no longer dislike squash after all. So that worked out well enough. The only mainstream Western foods I will not consume are coffee, alcohol, anchovies, and really bad tea. For coffee, there are usually socially-acceptable alternatives like cocoa or tea, and if there aren’t, a simple “no thanks” usually doesn’t offend. Alcohol is a bit more awkward to avoid, but my reasons there are medical, not just aesthetic, so I refuse strongly if necessary, and just deal with the social consequences. Nobody ever seriously expects anyone else to ever eat anchovies, so that’s not a problem, and I’ve never seen tea so bad I’d refuse it anywhere except in a cafeteria. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/25 "2016-05-27T00:02:34Z")
Only once, ever, have I been served something I couldn’t force down. It was hummus in sesame oil, but the oil was sharp and rancid, like sewing machine oil. My host said it was the family recipe, from his mother’s native Lebanon. To my huge shame and embarrassment, I had to spit it out into the sink. I’ve had stuff I didn’t care for a whole lot, but could eat. I was astonished to learn that I really like okra! I’d heard horrible things about it for years, but, finally trying it, I thought it was yummy! ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/26 "2016-05-27T00:21:13Z")
I said “mostly yes” because I do remember one time when I simply could not swallow what was in my mouth - parrot fish sushi. It was like having a large gob of fish-flavored rubber ball laced through with tough, unbreakable tendons in my mouth. No amount of chewing had any impact - it just bounced back when I tried to break it down with my teeth. I was at a party so managed to wander off and discretely spit it out. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/27 "2016-05-27T00:33:42Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > So, can you eat such food with out your gag reflexes kicking in? Those aren’t mutually exclusive. I can choke down food even while gagging. The worst meal that I’ve ever eaten was when I was about 12. I was at a friend’s house and they served “broccoli surprise”. I absolutely loathe broccoli and hate it to this day. Broccoli surprise made it worse by embedding big broccoli chunks in undercooked Bisquick. I choked it down with a smile, because I was a very polite child and I’d never think of offending a host. But it was so bad that I remember it a quarter century later. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/28 "2016-05-27T01:02:22Z")
Ugh, I like broccoli, and that still sounds terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/29 "2016-05-27T01:22:00Z")
Yeah, it was somehow worse than the sum of its parts, even with the parts being awful. Another time (different friend) I choked down part of a quesadilla made with cheese that had started to go bad. Fortunately, the rest of the family noticed right away and I didn’t have to take more than a few bites. Nevertheless, that meal was preferable to broccoli surprise (plus it was funny to see the family take the father to task for his inability to smell moldy cheese). ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/30 "2016-05-27T03:23:44Z")
I did eat eggplant on two separate occasions while being as polite as possible, but if I am ever faced with eating eggplant again, I think I will feign death. So NO. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/31 "2016-05-27T05:03:44Z")
While I’m sure there is actually some food out there so gross that I would actually feel nauseated. I don’t have much of a gag reflex. When I get a stomach illness that makes other people throw up, I never really do, even if I think it would make me feel better if I could. That said, there are few foods I don’t like, and even the ones I say I dislike the most (certain types of pickles) I eat. And I have choked down when I screwed up and added too much salt to something. It just took time. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/32 "2016-05-27T05:30:55Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Mainly nope, but if it’s just I don’t like it because it’s been prepared badly (like my grandma’s cooking) I can choke it down. If it’s actually something I flat out don’t like no matter if it’s prepared by the greatest cook in the world, it’s not going in my mouth (_shudder_ mushrooms). This: word for word ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/33 "2016-05-28T03:04:42Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > So, can you eat such food with out your gag reflexes kicking in? I’ve never had my gag reflex triggered by the _taste_ of anything. It’s always triggered by textures, and sometimes that’s even things I like: mashed potatoes, for example, which I like, that have been whipped too much will make me gag. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/34 "2016-05-28T07:19:03Z")
I’ve stopped scraping tomatoes off of things if they’re hard to separate. I wouldn’t eat one whole. I had durian awhile back. It was underwhelming; it smells but not overpowering like how people claim you can’t eat it inside. Stinky smell, but it only travels so far. Tastes like papaya maybe, no bad taste at all. It’s not like I imagine surstromming is like, not sure I could choke that down, but most other things I will. ---
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/35 "2016-05-28T14:39:20Z")
If the food hasn’t been properly,prepared – undercooked pastry for example – is where I have a hard time. I’ll eat something i don’t like, or eat around the ingredient I don’t like, most of the time. The exception is nuts. I’m not allergic, but I really just can’t eat them. Almonds are ok I guess. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2016, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741/36 "2016-05-29T04:51:05Z")
The only things that I won’t eat are things that aren’t made out of food. Pearl factories, for instance; and metabolic filters. Also parsnips. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-eating-stuff-you-dont-like-thread-this-time-with-a-poll/755741.md?page=1)