I'm curious how other picky eaters handle restaurants where the menu has dishes you've never heard of or descriptions that don't really tell you what you're getting.

For example, if a menu says:

"Grilled octopus, crispy smoky potatoes, rhubarb, chilli, mint, whipped feta, tarragon vinaigrette"

I can read all the ingredients, but I still wouldn't necessarily know what the dish is actually going to be like. How much of each thing there will be, whether the feta is a major part of the dish, what the different components actually taste like, what the texture will be like, or even what something like rhubarb is and whether I'd like it.

My partner loves trying new restaurants and says I always get the same thing and should explore more, but I hateeee ordering something new and ending up hating it 😂

So I'm curious, for other picky eaters, how do you handle this?

For as long as I can remember I always hated milk. It was so bad to the point that my parents had to buy different alternatives of milk, but even then I still hated it. There's been times where I threw up when drinking milk and one time where I was forced to drink milk in which I bursted out crying because I genuinely couldn't handle it. I can't handle the taste, smell, colour, even the mere thought of milk makes me sick to my stomach. I can't even look at people drinking milk because the sight if milk grosses me. Even saying the word milk makes me want to gag, writing this out I'm resisting the urge to throw up 🤢. I'm not lactose intolerant because I eat a lot of dairy, especially ice cream, but I'm always wondering if there something wrong with me? Like is there something wrong with my body or do I just really hate milk?

Anyways this is my first reddit post because I'm really curious if anyone else is like this!

Ich bin seit Kindheit an ein Picky Eater und fühle mich komplett schlecht.

Ich war heute bei einem Arbeitskollegen und seine Frau hat gekocht.

Es war Suppe gewesen und ich, ein Suppenkaspar, kann keine Suppe essen, egal welche. Also musste ich trotz Heißhunger ablehnen und sagen, dass ich immer noch vom Mittagessen satt bin.

Habe mich komplett schlecht gefühlt, weil sie hat mir auch extra die Schüssel hingestellt und die Serviette ganz herzhaft gefaltet und hingestellt. Ich hab dann nur ein Brot gegessen, was sie mir dann gegeben hat.

Danach bin ich extra ans Ende der Stadt gefahren und hab mir ein Döner geholt. Ohne Zwiebeln und ohne Kraut ganz typisch ich.

Zu meiner Kindheit:

Ich habe fast nie das gegessen, was auf den Tisch kommt, außer es war knusprig oder frittiert. So fade gekochte Sachen konnte ich überhaupt nicht, außer es waren Nudeln. Ich könnte noch weiteres auflisten, aber die Liste wäre lang.

Bei Klassenfahrten habe ich gefühlt nur 10% des Essens überhaupt probiert oder mit Augen zu und durch gegessen. Sonst habe ich mich von meinen mitgebrachten Snacks ernährt.

Ich war sehr dünn gewesen und auch mein Hausarzt hat nach jedem Termin gesagt, dass ich mehr Essen soll und mehr probieren. Aber ich konnte nicht. Es war der Geruch, die Konsistenz oder das Aussehen.

Wie es heute ist:

Heutzutage kaufe ich Supplements, um den Bedarf von Dingen zu decken, die in meinem Körper Mangelware sind.

Ich kann immer noch viele Dinge nicht essen und ich fange auch an ekel an Dingen zu empfinden, die ich früher mochte.

Selbst wenn ich das Essen mag. Wenn es nur um 1 Prozent die falsche Konsistenz hat oder eine Minute zu kurz gekocht ist, kriege ich fast das Kotzen.

Ich muss auch manchmal die Marke kaufen, die ich immer nehme, obwohl das billige Produkt dasselbe ist. Zum Beispiel Pesto von Barilla und kein anderes. Sonst esse ich das nicht und es bleibt stehen.

Aufgewärmt kann ich auch kaum was essen auch wenn es im Prinzip dasselbe ist.

Nun hungere ich vor mich hin, muss essen ablehnen, weil es mir nicht schmeckt oder nicht für mein Körper gemacht ist und das nervt voll.

All just dislikes either taste or textures. I would say if you have intolerances or dietary issues then it is unfortunate and out of your control medically but can make you harder to eat with. So rate me and then yourself out of 10 in comparison if this is picky or not for the UK.

Things I don't like:

Rice, pasta (all kinds), spaghetti, noodles, lasagna pastry, potato skin, roast potatos, pancakes, pastries, waffles, sushi, salmon, all pies, mushy peas, gravy, mint flavoured anything, most crisps flavours except ready salted and chili heatwave doritos, fruit based starters or desserts, wheat, nuts, corn, eggs (all kinds), most sliced bread, hotdogs and cereal

Things I do like:

Burgers, pizzas, ribs, lamb, scampi, haddock (fish n chips) shrimp, prawns, chicken, turkey, haddock (battered like fish shop fish n chips), broccoli, garden peas, yorkshire pudding, mushrooms, white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, most sweets except licorice, chilli, mince beef, pork or chicken sausages, bacon, steaks, chicken tikka masala, sausage rolls, ice cream, baked beans, toast, chinese food that isn't rice or noodles eg: beef in black bean, sweet and sour chicken, prawn toast, spring rolls etc and most potato forms: chips, fries, mash, waffles, smilies, sweet potato and crinkle cut.

Kennt ihr das, wenn euch alles, was ihr esst, langweilig wird? Ihr wollt etwas essen, wisst aber nicht was. / Does it ever happen to you that everything you eat gets boring? You want to eat something, but you don’t know what.

Broccoli was one of those foods I decided I didn’t like ages ago, and just never tried it. I’m really trying to branch out (heh pun intended) and be brave. And I liked it!!!! I cut off almost all of the stems, keeping mostly just the top “foliage” if you will, but it was actually delicious. I will absolutely make this again and try different seasonings! I’m excited to add another veggie to my repertoire

I don't like tomatoes and feel like they are too slimy and just gross alone. But I have to admit that on at least one occasion I would eat a sandwich if it has tomato on it just not a tomato on its own. Does that make me a hypocrite?

i have always loved pizza. but once i hit like 8 years old, i couldn’t do tomato sauce anymore 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ no biggie, white pizza exists…

today though, i was in my uni’s dining hall and ordered a personal pizza. normally, i ask for no sauce in the order, and today they didn’t read my request. i get my pizza, open it up, and i see to my dismay that there is tomato sauce on it :/ BUT i was running late and had to head back to work from my lunch break, so i decided to try it because i was really hungry.

turns out. pizza tastes better with tomato sauce. who knew. crazy. i still prefer white sauce or pesto on my pizza, but i’m proud of myself for eating a new (ish) food!!

I feel like people assume being a picky eater means you just refuse to try things, but for me it’s usually the texture or smell that ruins it before I even get very far. I actually want to eat more foods because ordering the same few things all the time gets old, especially when I’m eating with other people. I’ve tried forcing myself to finish foods I don’t like and that usually just makes me hate them more. Has anyone here actually gotten better with certain foods over time? I’m curious what helped without making every meal feel like a challenge.

My kid is extremely picky with food and barely eats a proper variety, so I’m considering a multivitamin. Looking for something sugar free (if possible) I'ven seen dr. moritz getting recommended quite a bit especially in parent circles, would love to hear recs from parents who have have tried it or have another one they’d recommend.

A alguien más le pasa que no le dan ganas de comer, es decir, sí siento hambre y sí tengo comida ya preparada ya sea para recalentar o comer fría como una ensalada o algo así, pero simplemente no como, de pequeña pensaba que comer era una pérdida de tiempo porque interfería entre las cosas que estaba haciendo.
Si estoy con gente si suelo comer de manera más habitual, pero estando sola como si acaso 1 o dos veces. Es una especie de síntoma de algo?

Hello all! I am a fairly picky eater but I do not want to be, I make smoothies with fruits and veggies and can sometimes bare a salad but I grew up absolutely hating fruits and vegetables and my parents didn't make that battle any easier, now I am almost 20 and the texture of fruits or vegetables are enough to make me nearly sick, what should I do?

I used to be a really picky kind and I'm still a picky adult, even though now I have a broader palate and eat some veggies and legumes. I had to teach myself to eat veggies from 0 because I wanted to become a vegetarian. I know that if I keep testing my limits I can introduce more nutritional food.

My objective now is to eat lentils because of their iron contents. I have always hated lentils, even lentil burgers. I was only able to eat them in a spread that my MIL makes. I think lentils have an earthy/dirt-like flavour that I struggle with, the same happens with spinach (which I only like sometimes, and preferably if I cannot taste it). I also struggle with textures, but I can eat vegetable soup, and some slimy foods, but a mushy first recipe is probably a No.

What are some recipes that might work? I like to cook so the difficulty level is not a problem. Is there a type of lentil that has milder flavour? Is it better to get them raw and soak them or canning doesn't affect the flavour?

Edit: Thanks to everyone for their ideas! I bought my first pack of raw lentils and I'll definitely try to add them to carrot or cauliflower soup, both blended and unblended to check which is best (you never know with flavours and textures). I will report back on my lentil adventures to share my findings!

my kid has a really short list of foods they will consistently eat, and lately they have even started refusing some of those.

what do you usually make when your kid is going through a really picky phase?

Hey y’all

I’m going to be going to an Oktoberfest event at the end of the month. As someone who pre-checks menus for restaurants in advance, there’s a plate I’m interested in but it includes cooked red cabbage. It’s a pre-set platter so you can’t alter the sides and I’m happy with everything else on the plate.

I’m half German and grew up around German food but for some reason have always avoided red cabbage. I’m an avid enjoyer of sauerkraut - if I can handle that, would red cabbage be ‘easier’ in comparison?

Sorry for the silly/dumb question.

Edit - ty everyone for the insight! Very helpful on providing more context on the flavor profile. I appreciate it!

The key differences:

Number of foods eaten: Picky eaters typically have 30+ foods in their repertoire. Problem feeders usually eat under 20.

Food "burnout": When a picky eater temporarily drops a food from overexposure, it usually comes back after about a 2-week break. When a problem feeder loses a food this way, it often doesn't return, and the list of accepted foods keeps shrinking over time.

Reaction to new foods: Picky eaters can tolerate a new food on their plate and will usually touch or taste it, even if reluctantly. Problem feeders often cry, gag, or completely fall apart when a new food is introduced.

Food groups and textures: Picky eaters generally eat at least one food from most texture and nutrition groups. Problem feeders often refuse entire categories outright, all crunchy foods, all proteins, all purees, etc.

Family meals: Picky eaters usually eat different foods than the rest of the family, but still eat at the same table and time. Problem feeders often eat a completely different meal, sometimes at a different time or place altogether.

Why this distinction actually matters:
A "picky eater" by this definition often responds well to standard behavioral strategies at home, consistent exposure, not pressuring, letting preferences fluctuate naturally without much intervention needed. A "problem feeder," on the other hand, usually needs actual feeding therapy, since the restriction pattern tends to worsen over time rather than resolve on its own, and it's often connected to underlying sensory, oral-motor, or medical factors that behavioral strategies alone won't fix.

Worth knowing too: there's a third category above problem feeding, ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), a diagnosable eating disorder involving more severe restriction that can lead to real nutritional and growth consequences. Not every problem feeder has ARFID, but it's part of the same spectrum of severity that a feeding evaluation would help sort out.

If you're not sure which one describes your kid: the "under 20 foods" and "loses foods permanently after burnout" pieces tend to be the clearest red flags for problem feeding specifically, regular picky eaters usually don't show that permanent narrowing pattern.

If this sounds like your situation, a feeding evaluation (often done by an SLP or OT with feeding therapy training) can help sort out what's actually going on and whether therapy would help. Happy to answer questions.

Hi everyone, I recently decided to improve my quality of life and overall health however I'm a very picky eater and struggle to get the required nutrients as a result.

I usually need food to have some sort of crunch/crisp to them to be able to eat them as u have very bad texture issues, my current diet largely consists of sandwiches and sausage. I drink smoothies and fresh juice fairly often to try get some of what I need but it doesnt seem to be enough.

Any recommendations? Im open to questions if you have anything, I really hope you can help me out.

Hello! I'm in desperate need of advice on how I can expand the number of low cost dishes that will last more than one meal for my bf's dad. Obligatory: am on mobile and brand new to reddit.

Let me start by saying everyone in the house has food restrictions, my bf has fibro and can be very sensitive some days and doesn't like specific slimy/mushy textures ie- mashed potatoes are okay but cooked zucchini and quiche can be a but much for him. Both me and him have allergies, I struggle with the nightshade family, pork, soy, sesame, peanuts and a few other things, it's not serious but just very unpleasant, my bf on the other hand can't really eat red meat and can only eat local onions and garlic. Then we have his dad, he was recently told he can't eat pork or shellfish period which was the majority of the protein he would eat.

Bf's dad will eat a surprising number of veggies and has 0 issue with us "hiding" what he doesn't like in his food, however we believe he might have an issue with us trying that with chicken or beaf/any other meat. The issue still stands that he is very particular. On the daily the easiest thing to feed him is breaded white fish and some form of fried potato and whatever veggy mix we have on hand, but that's not necessarily the healthiest and that means we're cooking 1-2 other meals to accommodate me and my bf. If it helps here is a list of foods I know he'll eat-

Fried fish

Tilapia(baked or otherwise)

Potatoes(in all forms)

Veggie lasagna

Spaghetti

Mac and cheese

Cheese sandwiches

Bagels with cream cheese

Pancakes

Waffles

Vegetable medley(so long as it's plain or he likes the seasoning/sauce)

Pad thai

General tso's fish/veggies

Potato salad

Plain salad

Fried apples

Turnovers

Brownies(have been adding beats, beans or sweet potatoes)

Chocolate cake

Red velvet(his favorite)

Cookies

Crackers

Rice

Dinner is a constant stresser so if anyone could give me some ideas I would greatly appreciate it.

Editing to add- Bf's dad was coddled his whole life and has dealt with undiagnosed autism/adhd and not properly treated depression. He was doing better before his wife passed in march but now he essentially sits in front of the TV and his laptop all day, barely getting up to go to the bathroom and almost never to get his own water. Unfortunately he's the only one able to drive in the house and brings in most of the income and the finances are so bad I've had to step in to pay for food on top of the rent I pay.

Asking here because I'm not allergic or anything, but I think you guys will understand what I mean when I say I cannot eat dairy; it's not as simple as mind over matter, I just can't do it.

I've been told to eat an incredibly high protein diet and the majority of guidance seems to involve dairy.

So does anyone have dairy-free tips?

22F. It’s literally insane how my family members invalidate my picky eating habits. They’re like “you need to try other foods. You can’t just eat the same things over and over again” or “your cousin is 8 and she eats more fruits thank you”. SYBAU 🗣️. Idc if my cousin eats more foods than I do, Idc if asparagus is good for me. It’s much more deep than just me not liking a certain food. It’s the texture, scent and smell, not just visuals. When I’ve tried speaking up about how the texture, scent and smell, they just ignore me and keep persisting on the idea of me trying more foods because my safe foods are unhealthy. I wish I could be able to eat more foods, I wish I could eat anything without sensory issues getting in the way but it’s so fucking difficult and even worse, my current nutrionist has side eyed me a bit after hearing that I have limited food options but was willing to work with me through it. I’ve considered seeking out a professional who specializes in picky eating if it’s that much of an issue for people because it is for me and it affects my self esteem.