Do you often cook or eat foods you really-really don't like? (1,079 views)
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Post by emma on May 13, 2021 21:25:28 GMT -5
Do you often cook or eat foods you really don't like, just because they are considered "healthy"?
The question came up recently and the group reaction was mixed. (No one in the group was on a strict medical diet). Some thought it was a "trick question" and refused to answer. Two said that they "mostly" follow a Mediterranean diet, but don't apologize for lapses. One claimed, "NOTHING unhealthy ever passes my lips!" Two of the group squirmed in their seats and giggled, Me, I eat a varied diet, and sometimes have planned lapses. I tend to get all stubborn and whiney when I am told a recipe is a MUST, because "It is HEALTHY". In other words - Don't tell me it is healthy and I am good to go!
And, you?
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Post by Catbatty on May 14, 2021 11:51:32 GMT -5
We just watched a GUT show on Public TV last night. It mentioned that there are foods YOU might not like, but your stomach DOES and NEEDS. Stomach is a world unto itself, doing all kinds of things for us and it needs some foods we (our mouths) may not necessarily enjoy. (I think it meant green or leafy things, because it was accompanied by a photo of a lady chewing something green with stems that stuck out of her mouth. Fiber.)
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Post by emma on May 14, 2021 15:12:56 GMT -5
Catbatty, I assure you, my stomach does NOT require lentils! I tried recipes for over 20 years before I said to myself, "Self, Give up already! You don't like the way lentils look, the way they smell, or the way they taste." I finally gave my, obviously slow-learner, self permission to quit trying. 
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Post by wallycat on May 14, 2021 16:07:50 GMT -5
Pre-breast cancer, I would be willing to eat cardboard if they told me I could be healthy, extend longevity with good, quality years, blah, blah. After cancer, I tried low-carbing (I have metabolic syndrome). I know some people drop a LOT of weight doing that, but I am not overweight (I just weigh more than I did when I was younger) so was never able to lose huge amounts. At some point, I said Med. diet has consistently shown to be the healthiest, and that's what we strive for. I have lapses. I try new foods a few times and if I don't like them, I move on. There's enough yummy stuff not to foist things on yourself that you don't enjoy. Life is short!
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traildoggie
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Post by traildoggie on May 14, 2021 16:49:16 GMT -5
pretty much the only time that happens is if I make something I THINK I will like, and it turns out disappointing. I will probably eat it anyway, just because I don't feel like starting over at 6 pm, after adjusting anything taht might improve it like.
had quite a few things that did not work out but that's the cost of not doing the same old - same old over and over. no red meat, hard boiled eggs, tarragon, mayo, grapefruit,rutabagas. the purchased cake with greasy frosting.... refuse if I can, or toss it somehow. bad ice cream. I like mostly healthy foods tho there is always space for cheez its, haagen daz, tortilla chips. etc.
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lantana
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Post by lantana on May 15, 2021 15:55:20 GMT -5
Hi Emma, What an interesting question! I only cook with ingredients we already like or expect to like, most of which are healthy and a few of which are decidedly not. Like traildoggie, I may pick a dud recipe now and then, and we do what we can with those. I made some sort of vegetarian walnut chili that was entirely resistant to any amount of spicing. I called it the Vantablack of stews, it absorbed all flavor like Vantablack absorbs all light. I think life is too short for bad books or for making yourself cook and eat something you don't even like
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Post by Catbatty on May 15, 2021 17:39:58 GMT -5
Lentils: years ago a friend made some lentil soup that made me crazy with love. Since then I have tried to make it and nothing comes even close. Yuk. I'm with you, Emma. I give up.
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Post by mcgee on May 15, 2021 19:21:37 GMT -5
Not that risotto is considered healthy but I remember when it was kinda trendy and everyone was raving about it so of course I just had to try it. I cooked it several times with disastrous results - one time it was like glue and was immediately tossed. I ordered it at restaurants where it was their signature dish only to be disappointed time and time again until I finally said to my husband, “I guess I just don’t like risotto.” I haven’t had it in probably 20 years now and can’t imagine ever trying to make it again. To me it was just glop!
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Post by PattiA on May 15, 2021 20:58:45 GMT -5
I'm willing to try just about almost anything, but if I don't like something, I don't cook or eat it because I "should". For example oatmeal, it may be really good for me, and it doesn't taste bad, but the texture is horrific to me. I use oatmeal in all sorts of things, but I will never ever willingly put even a spoonful of breakfast-style oatmeal (or rice pudding or tapioca) in my mouth. I definitely do not like brown lentils, but green and red lentils are OK with me. The brown ones taste like dirt to me. Maybe I haven't had properly cooked risotto, but I've never had one I enjoyed so I've never bothered to make it.
Probably the only time I eat things that I don't really like is when I am a dinner guest, but there are some things that I just cannot eat to be polite because to the texture.
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traildoggie
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Post by traildoggie on May 16, 2021 14:44:41 GMT -5
Better words than I used... yes, "dud " recipe. Im fussy about food textures too. I can handle oatmeal but just barely. things that smell bad .. I remember being told that they smell bad but taste good and it never made sense to me. if it smells like stinky cheese=smelly feet, why should it get even close to my mouth? so hard boiled eggs do not make the cut, nor stinky cheese, sauerkraut etc.
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Post by Catbatty on May 16, 2021 15:56:21 GMT -5
Ok, you guys. I am now inspired to go looking for recipes that MIGHT make us like Lentils and Oatmeal. (I believe most of agree that both are gross!!) But, for some reason, I feel the need to investigate. (My husband eats oatmeal every morning! Egads.) His oatmeal cookies (ala King Arthur Whole Grain) are the BEST (he adds some sweetened coconut--which I also hate). But oh my, they are amazing cookies. I have just purchased a vegetarian cookbook that makes me salivate just looking through it, and it has a tomato/lentil soup in it. (John Ettinger's: 101 Vegetarian Meals (I think it's called). I'm going to scan it and post it for YOU ALL!! I may even MAKE It. Oh my! I am a brave one, aren't I? LOL
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Post by wallycat on May 16, 2021 15:59:57 GMT -5
Lentil sloppy joes are good and have enough spice to make non-loving-lentil people not mind them as much. Still, there are enough beans out there ...why force it? I am an oatmeal liker. If I used old fashioned rolled, I add yogurt and fruit and a nut butter and I do NOT cook the oats. That may help some with the slime/texture factor. Steel cut oats are like a creamy soup to me...what's not to love. You can even add cheese!
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Post by emma on May 16, 2021 17:52:16 GMT -5
I like oatmeal cooked with dried cranberries and orange flavoring - no milk.
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gilgamesh37
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Post by gilgamesh37 on May 17, 2021 10:27:02 GMT -5
I'm middle of the road on lentils---like Ina's lentil soup recipe (which uses the Puy green lentils) and generally love Indian dahl recipes, but am often pretty indifferent to other preparations. Oatmeal I like fine, although I totally understand the texture ick, which I have with other things (like liver, unless it's been made into pate, in which case, I'm off in the corner, hoarding it like Gollum  ) I think the only thing I don't much like but try to eat periodically because it's good for me is cooked salmon. Love it raw, but cooked.....deeply meh. We have two recipes that we like well enough (miso-glazed and hoisin-glazed) and we recently tried it sous vide which I thought was interesting (as cooked salmon goes) but DH gave a firm No. If we could afford to buy the sashimi grade stuff and eat that regularly raw, I'd do it in a heartbeat, but until then, I do try to "force" us to have it cooked once or twice a month.
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Post by wallycat on May 17, 2021 13:50:59 GMT -5
Gilgamesh, there is actually no regulation that stipulates "sashimi" grade. Salmon is one of those fish that does get worms. If I catch fresh salmon, I will cook it through, but freezing kills all the icky stuff we need to worry about with sushi, so if I buy the flash frozen, I cook it quite rare. DH says it may as well be flopping around, LOL.
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Post by erin elizabeth on May 25, 2021 17:55:52 GMT -5
This wasn't where I thought this thread was going! I more thought of the you hate beets but your partner loves them kind of thing.
Hmmm, I don't make things I don't like, but I am single so just me to make happy! There is probably a difference, too, between trying and making. I think it must be a texture thing. Risotto is OK--I've made a great one and had some at restaurants, but I don't really make it or order it. Lentils are OK--I actually really like them though in the Slow-Cooker Lentil Tacos that I got from this board at some time, but it is one of those "vehicle" recipes--just taking along the flavor you want. To me it tastes like refried beans. Never had oatmeal as a kid (we had Cream of Wheat) and not sure where I really picked it up. I do like it, but it can be too gluey or too gloppy. I've tried some stinky cheese, but mostly crumbles and not runny stuff.
One thing I have slowly come not to like is eggs. Definitely a texture and smell thing. I moved to scrambled, but now rarely eat them. As I kid, I ate them every whcih way, except hard boiled.
One thing I have come to LOVE is coffee. My parents do not drink it. My grandparents were the Sanka and decaf types. Started to drink it when it was free with breakfast when I went to Europe in college, but didn't keep up with it. Then when I started my first job out of grad school the office manager would make the first pot and the smell would fill the quiet office. Started off with A LOT of milk and a little coffee and am now at about 1/4 milk and 3/4 strong coffee. OK, maybe some days 1/3 to 2/3  Depends on the day!
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Post by bawstinn on Jun 1, 2021 7:42:59 GMT -5
I do - I hate beets and bananas. Absolutely hate. I cook beets for the rest of the family and make them banana bread all the time.
Kale isn't a favorite around here. I've tried a few times to cook it or throw it in soup. None of us care for it at all so I just use spinach in soups and stews.
I guess bottom line is there are enough "healthy" foods floating around that I don't feel like I have to cook or eat anything we really don't like, just because it is healthy. I am lucky though that I have 2 kids that have never been picky eaters and will eat anything that I put on the table.
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traildoggie
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Post by traildoggie on Jun 7, 2021 12:07:37 GMT -5
I'm mystified at the dislike of lentils. I always thought they were benign.
I love lentil soup. simple with onion, celery, carrot sauted, about 2 cups of lentils. 6 cups water and a bay leaf. I usually dice up a couple potatoes. cook until lentils and potatoes are starting to break down. salt and pepper to taste. I like lentil tacos too. texture seems to me just like well cooked beans. but then Im someone who finds oatmeal difficult to get down due to texture so what do I know.
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Post by applecrisp1 on Jun 16, 2021 14:24:53 GMT -5
I don't buy ingredients that I don't like (not counting trying something new and not liking it). For example, blueberries are great for you etc etc, always mentioned how healthy they are for you ...... don't like them (a texture thing). Never buy them.
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Cher
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Post by Cher on Jul 7, 2021 14:23:32 GMT -5
So....my son and DIL are living with us while they are going to school, so I have to cook things everyone likes. She is super picky~no fish or pork. It's been a struggle as DH and I eat most things. ~craving some BBQ pork chops~so I will put that on the menu and my son will grill her a chicken breast. ~That works. ~!
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Post by orangeangel12 on Jun 6, 2022 11:59:51 GMT -5
YES! I do. I'm working from home and always in a rush, or sometimes just because I prefer to have a healthy lunch to keep up with my working hours (if not, I end up in bed, LOL). But I don't enjoy most of my meals. The truth is, working remotely, it's tough to cook delicious and elaborate meals because there's no time!!! I found some fantastic advice for working from home that helps me keep my schedule and work-life balance habits. However, it's a lifetime struggle I'll have to deal with. Does this also happen to you??
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Post by Catbatty on Jun 6, 2022 21:25:01 GMT -5
YES! I do. I'm working from home and always in a rush, or sometimes just because I prefer to have a healthy lunch to keep up with my working hours (if not, I end up in bed, LOL). But I don't enjoy most of my meals. The truth is, working remotely, it's tough to cook delicious and elaborate meals because there's no time!!! I found some fantastic advice for working from home that helps me keep my schedule and work-life balance habits. However, it's a lifetime struggle I'll have to deal with. Does this also happen to you?? WELCOME TO GREAT FOOD, ORANGEANGEL! Just a note -- we don't follow links that new members have posted. We have no clue where they might lead us or how safe they might be. We ask new folks to not post links, as a result. We would not want a member to step into an unfamiliar webpage and then be hurt possibly. Otherwise, hope you find some good things to perhaps make ahead and then just heat up...and to get out of the house and enjoy life. (It's not easy, I know. I have a daughter who has worked from home on and off for several years. Different. I know. It can take over and leave you with little quality time of your own. Plus, I guess we NEED a bit of human interaction now and then. In real life, I mean.) Again, welcome. Catbatty
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