# Picky eaters:what is the mildest, most unassuming food ingredient you or the person you know has been too picky to tolerate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [February 3, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862 "2022-02-03T17:34:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/1 "2022-02-03T17:34:09Z")
Per @solost suggestion in [this thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-food-preference-differences-are-there-between-you-and-your-significant-other-would-be/958703/42) , I’ve started this one so as not to continue the hijack in the other. I’ll go first; cheese. With the exception of pizza - and it really needs to be mozzarella- I won’t touch anything made with it. Though I don’t know how “unassuming” it is. Maybe I should expand the parameter to include “the most common”. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/2 "2022-02-03T17:41:09Z")
As mentioned in that thread, lettuce or most any other greens. If the green is accompanied by other things like, say, a burger or a BLT, then okay. But otherwise, it upsets my stomach. Also, pieces of fat (other than something like bacon that has been fried). Some people just wolf it down, but it makes me gag. If I was sitting at dinner with British royalty, I’d still spit it out. It’s why I don’t order things like Chinese food that contains pork or beef, because I know it hasn’t been trimmed to my standards. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/3 "2022-02-03T18:26:09Z")
Pretty unassuming list for me mayo Ketchup Mustard Relish Olives, green or black. I won’t touch any thing containing those. (actually, I will eat things with mayo as an ingredient. But not as a condiment. Potato salad, for example) ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/4 "2022-02-03T19:16:30Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > I’ll go first; cheese. With the exception of pizza - and it really needs to be mozzarella- I won’t touch anything made with it. Though I don’t know how “unassuming” it is. Maybe I should expand the parameter to include “the most common”. Cheese is my ingredient. Of course I’m not a picky eater, and cheese is about the only thing that I’m funny about, to the point that I order pizza without cheese. For me it’s a texture thing. I’ll eat solid cheese. I’ll eat fully melted cheese like in cheese dip. But I can’t do half melted cheese. It feels like greasy snot. Nasty stuff. Other than that, I’ll eat just about anything that is typically considered food. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/5 "2022-02-03T19:27:50Z")
Bamboo shoots are a staple of Vietnamese cooking, but I really, really, really hate the smell. I have no problem with fish sauce or its stinkier cousin, mắm tôm (shrimp paste?), but bamboo shoots smell to me like putrefaction at work. What zombies in the kitchen again? Nope, just some simmering bamboo. Ugh, I’d have preferred the zombies. My wife, like the OP, tolerates a small amount of cheese on pizza, but hates it anywhere else. So, you know, we each have our own tastes. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/6 "2022-02-03T19:31:33Z")
My wife hates raisins. **Raisins**! She will pick them out, if possible, or just not order any dish that has them. Me - I love me some raisins! ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/7 "2022-02-03T19:32:57Z")
I’ve read that _Accent_ seasoning is basically umami flavored. I can’t stand the taste of it. I can’t stand the taste of yoghurt or anything yoghurt based. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/8 "2022-02-03T19:45:42Z")
I won’t eat cake. Or pasta. Amongst a zillion other things. My stomach, my rules. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/9 "2022-02-03T19:46:54Z")
My friend likes his burgers with nothing but meat and a bun. No cheese, no sauce, no pickles, no nothing. I will pick out peas from a pot pie. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/10 "2022-02-03T19:57:37Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > My friend likes his burgers with nothing but meat and a bun. I usually go crazy with condiments on a burger, plus a fried egg or avocado, etc, but if trying a burger at a new place I’ll sometimes evaluate the meat by ordering a burger, rare as they’re comfortable making it, with just meat and bun. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/11 "2022-02-03T19:59:21Z")
Yeah, but I do want the cheese, and I will get 1000 island on the side, so I can use it if the meat isn’t great. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/12 "2022-02-03T20:01:19Z")
Celery. I have to chop it fine or my girlfriend will pick it out of her food. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/13 "2022-02-03T20:08:54Z")
Speaking for myself: - Celery – too stringy. - Onions – especially raw ones. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/14 "2022-02-03T20:23:21Z")
As a therapist working with people who have severe health issues and frequently have been prescribed a diet by their medical team, I am astonished by how many people “hate water.” ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/15 "2022-02-03T20:31:14Z")
Well fish…you know! ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/16 "2022-02-03T20:44:17Z")
> [@susan](#): > > As a therapist working with people who have severe health issues and frequently have been prescribed a diet by their medical team, I am astonished by how many people “hate water.” I think this wins for mildest and most unassuming. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/17 "2022-02-03T20:51:50Z")
Accent is just plain MSG. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/18 "2022-02-03T21:01:58Z")
Raw apples. They give me indigestion. And they don’t taste all that good. I like cooked apples fine. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/19 "2022-02-03T22:03:37Z")
You must be dating the girl I used to date. I mentioned a celery incident in the thread linked in the OP, that inspired it. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862/20 "2022-02-03T22:05:52Z")
Supposedly W.C. Fields hated water. Because, he said (answer NSFW): “fish fuck in it.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picky-eaters-what-is-the-mildest-most-unassuming-food-ingredient-you-or-the-person-you-know-has-been-too-picky-to-tolerate/958862.md?page=2)