I have always been a picky eater. I guess not so picky but I never wanted to try new or different things, never was willing to try a new cultures food, and usually stuck to what I knew. It started getting to be a real issue with my friends group who always wanted to try something new, go to some new place, or having some event that was food centered at home. I just passed on everything, It had gotten to the point where it started effecting my social life, friends and family would want to go try Thai, Indian, Chinese, or something like Ethiopian foods and I would choose to not go, or if I went I would just eat the most basic of things. This also made me not like traveling as I didn't want to go to places I was not familiar with.
Well we went out about a month ago and were at a Chinese spot, and I was having a plain rice dish (like usual) and my friends started giving me a hard time about it, the usual "only eats chicken nuggets and mac n cheese" comments, which I was trying to argue against (I do eat more than pizza or mac-n-cheese) but it really started pissing me off as the evening went on. Near the end, comments were still coming, one friend shoved his S&S chicken to me and said "They are just nuggets with different breading and sauce, if you can't try that you really are a child" I started to shrink away and refuse, but decided to "Show him" and tried it without question. Wasn't bad really, and it exploded their heads that I had done it after all these years. Well that made others push something my way to try, none of them were as bad as I imagined, none were bad, some I wouldn't eat again by choice. I guess just one bite like everyone has always said is really true, it doesn't hurt and I am starting to understand why they always told me I can't say I don't like a food if I have never tried it. Well now we have gone to Italian, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Pho, and some seafood. They are all offering me bits and bites of what they order and I have to admit, some I don't like and will never eat again, but I guess I was always wrong for saying no before ever trying it and probably insulting them and their preferences by my refusal every time we went out, and probably making it harder on the whole group because of my own hang ups and just not wanting to be put on the spot like that. I mean I still eat mostly the same things I always have, but at least now I won't be known as the person who just refuses to try new foods because I like kiddie foods. I also see how when we have had get togethers I probably offended them all for not trying foods they put effort into making.
I honestly think it was partly due to my parents, they would try to force me to try something and I would refuse and it would turn into a heated angry fight every time. I once swore I would never try a new food again because of how I was treated over not trying them, but I never thought if I just tried it all the fight would never exist. I have been my own enemy for years and years and am embarrassed.