There’s no magic shortcut to suddenly liking all the different flavors that the world has to offer. The answer to getting over being a picky eater is pretty mundane, actually. It all comes down to trying small amounts of new and different foods, over a long period of time that might end up lasting a lifetime.
Here’s the thing, though: the words small amounts are key here. You do not need to dive into the deep end of the culinary pool from the get-go. In fact, being too adventurous when you’re naturally a conservative eater can force you to rush back to your comfort zone and stay there for years. You’ve got to take things slow. You’ve got to be patient. If all you eat is beans on toast, you won’t become a seafood and steak connoisseur overnight.
If you really care about trying new foods, start incredibly small. For instance, if you’re not a fan of olives (hi! Nice to meet you, welcome to the club!) you could start by buying a jar or can of olives and nibbling at one of those weird spheres. Focus on the taste, texture, and smell. Consider all the nuances and how you feel.
Next, you could try olives in combination with different ingredients. You might realize like yours truly that you actually do enjoy them, but only in salads or on pizzas where their flavor profile changes a bit. In the meantime, consider trying different brands of olives, too. In our experience, a lot of our enjoyment depends on the quality of the ingredients. Some olives are absolutely horrid (as are other foods) while others are divine because they’ve been grown or marinated differently. In short, you need to find what works for you.
At the end of the day, if you still don’t like a food item after all the experiments you’ve run, it’s perfectly fine to move on for now. You might develop a taste for those ingredients in the future when your sense of taste changes. There’s a world of different foods out there that are begging to be tasted, and you might just find your next favorite completely by accident. Oysters, anyone?
