We all know a picky eater or two.
Maybe you have that one friend who refuses to step foot in asushirestaurant even though shes never tried it.
Or the one who turns her nose up at the mention of anything green.
Sophia Hsin / Stocksy.com
(Seriously,people eatbugsthese days.
The limit does not exist.)
But neophobia can be greatly influenced by your surroundings, too.
Beyond fear, theres the fact that different compounds in foodscan smell and taste differentto different people.
Preferences like this can also make some people seem pickier than others.
Trying anything new, food included, requires you to step outside of your comfort zone.
If you’re not very adventurous, you may have a tough time with this.
People who seek new adventures or thrills might be more likely to experiment with food.
There is a thrill-seeking personality trait, Pelchat says.
But as we get older, if we continue to avoid new foods, pickiness can persist.
Thats not what were talking about, Pelchat explains.
Were taking about people who eat an unusually restricted range of foods.
Texture is also very important to picky eaters, says Pelchat.
[Picky eaters] are very sensitive to things like gelatinousness and cartilage.
For those who are simply picky, certain social situations can cause anxiety.
Like cocktail parties, with all those passed hors d’oeuvres full of mystery ingredients.
Adult picky eaters have trouble going to business lunches or someones house for the weekend, Pelchat adds.
Picky eaters also typicallytravelwith snacks, and are very brand loyal.
Once they find something that doesnt disgust them, they stick with that, Pelchat says.
No one just wakes up on their 30th birthday suddenly liking broccoli.
You have to eat it, and eat it, and eventually, you may start to like it.
It may take a new cooking method, or just the right jot down of seasoning.
And you just may never like broccoli, no matter how hard you try.
But to even have a shot at being less picky, you definitely have to be committed.
The most common reason for wanting to change is social, Pelchat says.
Expanding your eating horizons can make everything from date night to a vacation easier and more enjoyable.
Its not a widely studied discipline yet, says Pelchat.
Treatment involves systematic desensitization, so slowly introducing new foods into your diet until they become familiar and welcome.
If youre highly motivated, you could have a go at overcome this fear on your own.
If you never are?
That’s fine too.
Eating chicken legs or fried grasshoppers certainly isn’t for everyone.
