I can’t deal with fruit as a category. Every single fruit has something I take issue with… fiber, seeds, skin, excessive tartness is a big one, too sweet, odd flavor, had an overripe one once and can’t forget it, had one that was touched by something objectionable (like a canteloupe or honeydew) and can’t forget it.
I can live with blueberries well enough, and I can handle a pineapple if it’s not too tart, but other than that, I’m just not a fruit guy. No issues with veggies or savory foods. Fruit to me is just sweets that are perilously close to spoilage, and have too much extra stuff in them.
At home, the Mrs. and I both eat our salads at the end of the meal, not at the beginning. Dessert (if it occurs) happens a couple hours later, closer to bedtime.
Corn on the cob: Two or three rows at a time, from right to left. Finish the 2 or 3 rows then go to the next set of rows.
Multiple items on the plate: go from worst to best, but weighted on level of badness/goodness. The level of “badness” determines the frequency I will eat it.
What? No, that’s all wrong-- it’s left to right, then rotate the cob and start again on the left, typewriter-style. You should almost be able to hear a ‘ding’ sound in your head as you get to the right end, and rotate.
Many of my meals end up in bowls. Pan seared chicken sliced, on top of a scoop of pearl couscous a veg medley alongside sometimes a scoop of cottage cheese and over all of it liberal drizzle of chili crisp oil.
As other posters have mentioned, I don’t like my foods touching. I used to be so obsessive that I would have a different bowl for each dish, but then Dr. Albracht put me on these little white pills. I’m also a notorious one-thing-at-a-time eater. Drives my family nuts, particularly my MIL. I’ll be eating some of the fried chicken, and she’ll be like “don’t you want some of the mashed potatoes?” Sure, after I finish the fried chicken.
Sometimes I’ll strip the toppings off of my pizza and eat that (with a fork(!)), other times I’ll eat my pizza the “normal” way, just depends on what kind of mood I’m in.
Mrs. H doesn’t consider her meat done unless you can snap it in half. She also thinks any meat that comes from the chicken that isn’t boneless skinless breast is of the devil and shouldn’t be touched.
And I’m probably the only carnivorous, hetero-cis, middle-aged Midwestern male who will ever admit to this, but: I could take or leave steak. I’ll eat it if it’s on my plate, but I’m not going out of my way for a good steak. AFAIAC, one steak isn’t appreciably different from another. And yes, I know that good preparation is the key, and I’ve had perfect medium rare from fine restaurants, and it’s all just … OK.
I’ve heard of this one as well, and don’t quite get it. If the pets contaminate everything so badly, why keep them in your house? Anyway: if the people-dishwasher is too good for the dog dish, I trust the dog dish also has its own sponge to wash it with, and maybe its own sink. I mean, why take chances.
If everything is served at once, I eat the cold items last. Because I hate eating once-warm-but-now-cooled food. So the stuff that cools fastest has some priority as I work through all the hot items. Then comes all the stuff that’s served at room temp or cool or cold.
IMO that’s just being practical, not fussy. Much like prioritizing the crunchy stuff before it gets too soggy to be experienced as intended.
I was a real PITA as a kid. I’d pick out any bits of onion from a meatloaf. I’d only eat brown gravy. Fat? Forgetaboutit.
I got over all that once I was on my own. Except for fat. It’s fine ground up in sausage and the like, but a chunk on a steak? Nope.
My eldest son is on the keto diet and has been for some years now. He also claims that carbs make his back ache, so he only orders burgers without the bun and avoids things like pizza, pasta, etc. I have to admit that he’s about the healthiest 55 year-old that I’ve seen.
I agree that those are merely practical considerations. But i really don’t like hot food or has to sit until it is no more than warm before I’m comfortable eating it. That is unusual, but i think my mouth must just be more sensitive to heat than some people’s, in an objective way. I’ve gotten blisters from eating hot food that take a day to heal, and that are rather unpleasant.
I eat most stuff, but it better be the “right” color! The idea of food coloring disgusts me. Food is not blue. Not even blueberries, because although that’s their natural color, I don’t like them enough to overcome the ick factor.
One time a nice lady at work baked rainbow cupcakes for my birthday. I thanked her and ate one…she’ll never know how hard it was!
For those of you that like to eat foods separately, do you like sandwiches with lots of toppings? Like, I love a south Jersey or Philly style hoagie-- ham, salami, lettuce tomato, onion, mayo, mustard, hot peppers, etc.
Do sandwiches like this turn you off? Also, would you have a thanksgiving style hoagie? That’s turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce on a roll. WAY better than the plated kind for me!
