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No matter how gastronomically flexible you think you are, everyone—absolutely everyone—has at least a few food quirks. It might be something as simple as hating kiwi and loving celery… or something as controversial as plopping pineapple on pizza!

User @Didiiiiiiiiii_ recently went viral on X (formerly Twitter) after sparking a thread all about the spiciest and most unpopular opinions about food. The thread went massively viral, and we couldn’t wait to share people’s hottest takes with you. Scroll down below and be sure to upvote the posts that you agree with, Pandas!

Bored Panda reached out to the author of the viral thread, @Didiiiiiiiiii_, and he was kind enough to share his thoughts on the popularity of the post, as well as on food and picky eating. You'll find his insights as you read on.

#1

Unpopular-Cancelable-Food-Opinions

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StrangeOne
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people will joke about the trauma as a way to cope. Doesn't make it less bad or okay. I totally don't agree with forcing kids to eat foods they don't like, within reason. If your kid gets a well balanced, nutritious diet, then who cares if they don't like peas or brussel sprouts. But if your kid won't eat anything but ketchup and chicken nuggets, then parents, of course, will have to find a way to encourage them to eat their veg. Extreme picky eating may also be a sign of a medical problem, so it's good to be observant.

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VioletHunter
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One imo good way I've seen was the rule to take one or two bites of any new food to try it. After that don't force it if the kid doesn't want more.

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Ren S
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a difference between making your kids eat broccoli if they want green beans instead, and "if it's not fried i won't eat it"... the truth is, nobody is going to die of hunger, when food is available. Maybe it's not their first choice, it might not be the second, but eventually they'll break down and start enjoying their grilled chicken with rice

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Bart
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And parents, learn to cook vegetables instead of serving unseasoned boiled mush!

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Zobi123
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seriously. Although, if you're kids never eat the lovely roasted veggies, I can see how it would be tempting to just throw them in water and be done with it.

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Robert Trebor
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

4-year-old me sat at the table until bedtime staring at an unsightly blob of cooked spinach. My mom realized that this was a war she wouldn't win. So, when spinach was on the menu (as yes, it is good for you) (don't have to tell me), she also cooked Brussels sprouts, which I, for some unaccountable reason, liked, and would eat. My mom and dad got both, I gut the sprouts, and my brothers got the weedy, slimy stuff, which for some unaccountable reason, they both liked. WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN! (Still don't like cooked spinach)

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Alex Luiz
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People in the comments have different experiences of being 'forced' to eat something. Some of these experiences were abusive and some of them were just firm parenting. I don't think being made to sit at the table for 30mins after everyone else finished because I threw a tantrum about eating broccoli had a lasting negative impact on me,tbh.

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Gardener of Weeden
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, but as my brother was forced to sleep at the dinner table because he would not finish his peas - he lost more respect for my father that day.

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Barbara Kayton
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s proven that people’s tastebuds change in their response to things, but forcing a child to eat something, or making the stay at the table until they eat something is not only traumatic (one of my biggest memories from camp), but won’t encourage them like it.

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Moosy Girl
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most adults eat plenty food they don’t like for all kinds of reasons!

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just me
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, but there's a difference between choosing to eat quinoa because it's supposedly so good for me or is all I have at home and there's no money to go out and bring forced by someone bigger than me to eat it.

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Rens
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was growing up, I used to hate the smell of bacon; not because I didn't like bacon, but because it was always accompanied by liver (and onions). I remember cutting the liver into tiny little pieces and swallowing them whole and trying not to gag. I have a lot of issues with textures and flavours and food aversions and this does not include all my food intolerances either. I buy what I like to eat. When my daughter was little we encouraged her to try everything and if she didn't like something, we prepared it a different way to see if that was better but she was never forced, just encouraged. To this day, she doesn't like mushrooms unless they are fried with butter and garlic which, in my opinion, is the only way to eat mushrooms!

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StellaLehggs
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay, but on the flip side of that, I didn't like a bunch of stuff as a kid and my parents never made me eat it or try new things and as such , I missed out on a bunch of good stuff until I was an adult and was made to try food I previously didn't like.

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AndyR
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well that's one way to discover how much harm a diet of Haribo can cause...

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Upstaged75
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup. I frequently used to have to sit alone at the table with a plate of nasty microwaved peas after everyone else had finished. As an adult I barely even eat vegetables due to the trauma of forcing down things that made me want to puke as a child. Thanks mom and dad! :(

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Brazen
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to squirrel away peas in my cheek, eat everything else around it and then go into the bathroom to flush them away. I got really good at doing that with things I hated, but it's really hard to drink a glass of milk when your cheeks are full though. lol

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Hex Gurls
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my parents did a thing called a no thank you bite where i had to try something just once in order to not eat it, which i think makes sense. i however am a people pleaser and would and still do eat things i hate just to not hurt others feelings.

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Brazen
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish my Mom did this. She put the food on our plates and them made us eat everything, even if we threw up because it was that bad. Throw up...come back and finish because "I said so".

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Darth Kittius
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've always hated chicken pot pie. It always made my stomach hurt and my parents (who didn't have a lot of money at the time) needed me to eat it because I was very underweight. Turns out I'm very lactose intolerant

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Brenda Coe
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not me, ever thankful...but my friend went thru this and it is horrific. My mom's rule was "try it once, if you don't like it you don't have to eat it." BUT she wouldn't make you anything else.

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just me
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep. We'd get easy alterations. My spaghetti noodles went on my plate before the rest had sauce, for example.

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BC
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to feed my beans to our dog under the table when Mum wasn’t looking… 😎

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Brazen
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's like reading about my childhood. I feel sorry for everyone who has experienced this. It really messes a person up.

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Purplescales
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have severe issues with food because of this. My dad would hit me in the head until I managed to choke down the whole plate of whatever disgusting goulash we were having for dinner, I could have probably handled it if he hadnt taken away the water I was using to wash it down with. Now as an adult I can look back and see that my issues were because of undiagnosed autism and food texture difficulties. And so whenever I found a food I did like I would overeat it as my daily dinner experience forced me to go beyond what my hunger limits were regularly. He also refused to let there be alternative food for us children but mom was forbidden from ever cooking something he didn't like. Swallowing past the lump of unshed tears in your throat is just the worst.

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tee-lena
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Arfid. It sucks and I'm quite a mild case compared to others. Check it out on Reddit

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John Topper
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you! I'm so sick of this every time a child is unhappy it's abuse nonsense.

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Dogcat vet (retired)
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember one post where the baby wouldn't eat well...turns out that the silicon food dish put a bad taste into his food. They changed the plate and good appetites returned

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Colleen Glim
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And trying to give what they didn’t eat to them for breakfast is just cruel. If they didn’t want to eat it for dinner last night, reheated and reserved the next morning is just an extra level of gross

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cogadh
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beets. To this day, I can't even stand the sight of them. The smell makes me gag. My mother used to do the whole "there are kids starving in China" or "if you don't eat them, no desert for you" BS. That lasted until one day I projectile puked all over the table as soon as everyone sat down and she started serving them. She finally got the message.

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Sara Wilson
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes! It's important to TRY different foods and there r exceptions, but remember how much u hated certain foods as a kid! Why would put that same thing on ur own children?!

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R Dennis
Community Member
7 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We were exposed to a wide variety of foods from a young age - I think a lot of it was poverty driven, as in: this is the best thing we can afford today. But I rarely turn my nose up to food merely based on sight or texture. My kids didn't grow up like that, but we always exposed them to a wide variety of foods with the No Thank You Bite rule: You have to take at least two small bites or one big bite. If you don't like it, then you can say "No, thank you." and don't have to eat it anymore... we would revisit the food a few years later because tastes change. Not too many foods they don't like as adults.

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Claire Bailey
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a big difference between not liking something and really hating it. Of course I will eat food I don't like for politeness sake, even food I am sensitive to, eg onion or garlic which will have me making extra bathroom visits the next day. But something that makes you gag at the smell or sight of it or a real allergy, then fine. But that isn't the same as a picky eater and that is something that bugs me and I think kids need to be taught manners about. Uou can't expect people to cater to every single picky eaters preference on a given day and nor should they.

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bob cameron
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree with you. When I cook I try to cater to food preferences but I refuse to make separate dinners for everyone.

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Yrtth
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a kid I have been forced on a very few occasions to eat apples. Didn't like them, they were itching my mouth. Found that I was allergic to them at 25. Allergies were not diagnosed are they are nowadays. Body signals should not be disregarded, even for kids.

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SheHulk
Community Member
7 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always said to my son when he was little that he has to try everything but I won´t make him eat anything! Worked well. He still won´t eat salmon, buts that´s it! For some people the fishy flavour is to much. I don't like dill, which tastes like soap to me.

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Graham Berry
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You must not be poor. Because when you are, you eat what you can afford not what you want. Especially if you are a kid.

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Brandon Collinsworth
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok I am a father of 7 and have been the main cook in my house now for almost 2 decades. I agree that generally speaking you should not make kids eat food they don't like. But also this person is wrong and as an adult you do occasionally eat foods you don't like because you are broke and don't have a choice or because it is the healthy thing to do, or you don't want to waste food. Also kids taste buds are sometimes super hard to accommodate, one of my kids watched some stupid documentary and decided she wasn't going to eat chicken anymore. Well I can't accommodate making a second dinner for her at the time we couldn't even afford it, so it was eat this or your won't be eating anything.

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Ashley Harrold
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just go with the "one bite rule", try a bite of everything on the plate, if they don't like it they don't have to finish it

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Jaaawn
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Any fellow Brits here remember when Iceland made chocolate flavour vegetables in the 90s to get kids to eat them? They were so bad I still never ate them.

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The Original Bruno
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Has OP ever had kids, I wonder. Kids reject ALL new foods. Taking her literally, It sounds like OP's parents were excessive. And frankly, you don't have to feed a food to a kid 500 times to realize the kid's never going to eat the food, and as soon as he/she's living on their own, they'll never eat it again, so enough already. But yes, you do have to struggle with getting kids to eat foods the reject.

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Andy Resh
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Amen!!! Stuffed green peppers are the things nightmares are made of.

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Liz Downing
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom always "insisted" that we try one bite. Yeah, she gave in if we really didn't want it. I appreciated that, because that's how I learned to like some of the uglier food - mushrooms and sweet potatoes come to mind.

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Leigh
Community Member
7 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a kid we couldn't leave the table till we cleaned our plate. We weren't allowed to wear sweaters either so it was uncomfortable eating in winter.

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Windtree
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would also add, forcing kids to clean up the plate. My mom served me the same quantity she served my dad and getting up the chair, I rolled down.

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kitteh floof lover
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yes, i agree, sorry to hear you had to endure that. i couldn't eat a certain meal my mom fixed, it was a textural thing, not a taste thing. so i too sat there, crying, gagging, and then i got a spanking with a ping pong paddle.

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Pigeon (they/them)
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This happened to me, but it was my kindergarten teachers. On Tuesdays they served us oatmeal, and we weren’t allowed to leave the table to play with everyone else unless we had at least one spoonful. I have sensory issues, and the texture made me gag, so on Tuesdays I just sat in my chair and watched everyone else play because I wasn’t too fond of throwing up

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Pigeon (they/them)
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, forgot to add, I was not offered an alternative food if I didn’t eat anything. I wasn’t starved or anything, but I was used to breakfast, then snack, then lunch. I brought my lunch from home, but I couldn’t eat it until 12:30 because schedules or whatever

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nanofarad
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My kids must taste something they don't like about once a year. This is because your taste change over time. They have starting liking quite a few things they refused to eat before. We don't cook things they don't like and expect them to eat it. They are for our dinner only. But they get a taste.

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The Darkest Timeline
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It can take up to ten times trying a new food before you decide if you like it or not. Introducing foods and continuing to offer it is good, forcing them to eat an entire helping is not.

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Trish
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I voiced not liking something, more of it would be put on my plate.

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Deta Rossiter
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my brother hated umngqusho (samp and beans with beef) he was given the same plate of food for 2 days i think, then my father gave up on trying to get his to eat it

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Pride Bean️‍
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't EVER force your children to do anything. Especially not eating, it can damage their mental health in the long term and can even cause an eating disorder or PTSD.

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Omima mimi miki
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

hmmm i agree to a point - my father taught me to try everything ( well so to not be rude) once. If you don't like it - don't eat it. But you may surprise yourself.

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Dawnieangel76
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom's 2nd husband made me eat things that I'd never try on my own, not try, EAT completely. When I started taking care of my niece, I swore I'd NEVER have her try something I don't like, and I'd NEVER make her finish eating something new if she didn't like it. At 19, she has a very eclectic palate for her age, and will try everything once...except seafood. I failed there. LOL!

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Heather Talma
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As with most things, there's a line. You've got to make sure they eat more than three things but you've also got to work with their tastes. Start em young.

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Fae (he/they)
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this. i'm in highshool and my parents still force me to eat food- or they take away things such as my blankets, my phone, pillows, etc-- even if i still eat the food

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Rebecca McManus
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Daughter is autistic, she has problems with a lot of foods, usually texture, I'm happy to go with the flow as she does make an effort and try new things. My mother and my sister on the other hand are dreadful, they keep trying to force her to eat things that we both know she'll not be able to manage, I've stopped taking her to family meals unless it's at a restaurant which will be flexible to her needs.

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Susan Bell
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always asked my kids to take 3 bites of new foods. After trying 3 bites over the course of 3 meals, they can do as they want. And food is a fun time and pleasant event at our house, where even a toddler can help make a meal, we all sit down together and visit, and something is prepared that they like at each meal. We have a veg garden, and they help as much as they want with it, and they see the food grown that they eat. Not everyone can do that last part, but make mealtime pleasant for everyone, and talk about healthy eating.

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April
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've always hated this, that kids are forced to eat food they don't like just because they're kids. I had one picky eater and one adventurous eater...I just kept offering my picky eater a wide variety of foods and thankfully, he eventually grew out of it. Nobody was ever forced to eat anything.

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Yili Lai
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Try it 3 times. For children it's important to expose them to as many varieties of foods as possible. It decreases allergies and increases immunity learning. If after 3 times they hate it's guts then stop

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NO JUST NO
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly I get the be great full extent of it but if your gaging like give the dang child a break

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Viv Florini
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had really crazy emetophobia when I was like 12. Forcing me to eat didn't work, just made it worse. Of course, I did have to eat, but I stuck mostly to my comfort food and protein shakes/supplements for a few months before the doctors prescribed me meds that actually worked.

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boone williams
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My morning show guy (Josh Venable of 104.5 the Edge) frequently tells the story from his youth wherein his wicked stepmother made him eat Brussels sprouts. He warned her he'd barf, but she insisted. He took one bite, did indeed barf all over the table, then said to her cooly, "clean that up."

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Miss Frankfurter
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad used to make me sit at the table until I ate whatever it was. I don’t know why he kept doing that. I’m the stubborn sort. I’d sit there. And sit there. And sit there. Nope. Its 9:30 pm. My mom tells my dad to stop it. I have to go to school tomorrow. He always lost.

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Bryn
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't understand why people think it's okay to treat kids like that. Like if they were the kid, they would 100% fight it, but because they're kids "it's okay, they need to listen." No, shut up. Treat your kids like you want to be treated and be kind.

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Justin Rogers
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My kid either ate what I cooked or had the option to make what they wanted

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Natalia Korol
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely idiotic comment. Kids if not forced to eat what they SHOULD would be just deprived f the necessary nutrients needed for the to grow and develop. Adults are not kids and their nutrient requirements are absolutely different. Get some education 🙄

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Steven
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Forcing children to eat food they detest is STUPID PARENTING. At its extremes it is CHILD ABUSE. Gradual, gentle , loving introduction makes sense.

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MR
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Both agree but adamantly disagree. As someone who wasn't forced to eat things, I never grew out of it and struggle with healthy eating. Partly because I'm spectrum, but partly because I was just never forced to try. What's described above is absolutely abusive. It's one thing to force someone to try something. Another to force them to fully eat it when they've clearly don't like it.

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whiterabbit
Community Member
7 months ago

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Yea instead let your children dictate their own meals and only eat mac n cheese and chicken nuggets. Then complain because your obese kid gets made fun of, they have health problems and theyre depressed.

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Bored Panda was interested to hear about the inspiration behind the thread which was viewed by tens of millions of users on X. The author, user @Didiiiiiiiiii_, was happy to share what drove him to ask people to share their takes on food.

"I created this thread because I’m constantly having arguments about food with friends and family," he told us. "So I posted this thread to have people's opinions on."

According to the author, talking about food is bound to elicit strong reactions from pretty much everyone. "It got to many people because food is a personal subject to many of us and how we like our food differs from person to person," he explained.

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Coralinea
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tried olives again after a decade. They are even worse now, so yes, the statement is correct.

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Sky Render
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seriously. If you can't do one of the most basic things required to keep you alive, that does not say good things about what you bring to the table in a relationship!

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Max Fox
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Vanilla IS NOT BORING. It goes with many things, including savory dishes (ask the Malagasy people). I eat a lot of things, and vanilla is still my favorite flavor of ice cream.

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Meanwhile, we were curious to get the X user's take on why so many people react so fiercely when the topic of food comes up.

"I think they tend to have strong opinions because we all don’t make, like, and eat our food the same hence all the arguments," @Didiiiiiiiiii_ told Bored Panda.

"I might strongly hate certain foods but you’ll find that it’s some people's favorite food," he pointed out.

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M Penguin
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A stray adopted me last year. I bought several brands in several flavors, none of which she liked. She was fending for herself on a diet of mice and other wild critters, but would turn her nose up at 1.29 can cat food.

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The author of the viral thread also shared his advice for anyone hoping to convince someone else to try out new ingredients and dishes.

"The best way I’ve convinced someone to try out a dish was by offering to give them money if they eat the food," he shared his experience.

"You’ll find that they actually change their mind on how the food tastes after eating it."

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Michael P (Perthaussieguy)
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Growing up in England, liver and bacon with mashed potatoes and gravy was always a popular dish

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The author of the thread, X user @Didiiiiiiiiii_, saw his post go viral almost immediately. At the time of writing, their thread was viewed over 22 million times and counting on the social media network.

It’s easy to see why the topic was popular. The answers were witty. A bit of controversy never fails to grab the internet’s attention. And let’s face it—we all love talking about food! The more relatable a topic is, the more likely it is to be popular on social media.

What kinds of ingredients and dishes we like will depend on a wide range of factors. It’s not just our genetics that matter when it comes to picky eating (heck, someone might be allergic to some foods and dislike certain tastes on a fundamental level). What’s also important is our cultural background, as well as how much experience we’ve had in the wide and intriguing world of gastronomy, and what our tolerance for risk and adventure is like.

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Someone who’s only ever eaten dishes from their culture might find it hard to stomach those cooked by people from different backgrounds. They might, for example, prefer certain flavor profiles to others. Or they might think that certain spices are ‘must have’ in practically any dish. And so, they might have very rigid standards when it comes to what they put on their plate.

Similarly, someone who, by and large, only ever eats a few select dishes over and over (and over!) again is likely to be incredibly conservative in the face of new ingredients. On the flip side, folks who have not only traveled more widely but also have an adventurous gastronomic outlook will be more likely to try out new flavor combinations. The willingness to take more risks and try out new foods isn’t just something that people are born with, it’s a skill that you can develop. Bit(e) by bit(e).

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Max Fox
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have to ask: when did the OP feel a slug crawling down their throat, and what mushrooms have they eaten?

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AndThenICommented
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes and no. I LOVE mint chocolate chip ice cream if made right. However, it feels as though the past 15-20 years many brands have switched to a tooth paste like mint - artificial, sickly, and 🤢

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Max Fox
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here isa person who probably never had a good tomato in their life. Eating the c**p that is bred to have a long shelf life, is mushy and tastes like wet sawdust is disgusting. But a really good, juicy freshly picked fully ripe tomato? Eat them in any way possible.

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Other picky eaters, however, might be extremely sensitive when it comes to certain tastes and textures from birth. So if their family members don’t expose them to a wider range of foods from early on in life, they might be reluctant to branch out. Luckily, everyone has the capacity to do so, but nobody should be forced to if they’re uncomfortable with it. You really need to be honest with yourself about why you want to expand your culinary horizons and step out of your comfort zone of a pantry.

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ORSOrama
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have never heard of anyone who does not like olives. Now I wonder if olives in the US are different from italian ones.

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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.

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#23

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StumblingThroughLife
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

May I ask ... What are grits? If it's a savoury dish, I agree sugar has no place there.

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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.

#25

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Sky Render
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A good Ranch dressing goes fantastic with chicken! Heck, chicken Ranch recipes are a midwest staple.

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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?

We’d love to hear your own controversial food takes, so drop by the comment section and share yours, Pandas. And if you’d like some more spicy culinary takes, check out Bored Panda’s previous features here and here. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re completely famished…

#32

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Bart
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Swiss here, we only export the cheese we don't like ourselves 😂 Jokes aside, there's hundreds of cheeses made in Switzerland and wile some are made for cheese fondue, others are just delicious like this. Try a piece of Etivaz aop or Tête de Moine and let me know :-)

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mysterious(all pronouns)
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who is cooking fruit? Maybe to put in pies or something, or baked apples? This doesn't seem like a real issue.

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Vul Va
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Living in Japan ruined sushi for me. Even the best fancy restaurant sushi in Europe where you pay €150 a head is dogmeat compared to the average Tokyo sushi train joint. Can only enjoy it in Japan now I guess

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StrangeOne
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People who hate sushi rely on the crunchy, under-cooked rice, bland grocery/gas station stuff or Bento Box. You need to go to a real sushi restaurant.

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PolymathNecromancer
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mostly because they are always offered when grossly underripe. Very disgusting. Ripe cantaloupes are scrumptious.

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Mr.G86
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are you eating them when they're black and in the dumpster or something? Wtf?!

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mYst17
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Perhaps the oversweet ones, but dark chocolate ice cream is really good

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Nikole
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another hard pass. Enjoy the mayo frosting on your birthday cake though.

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Oleander
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7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds disgusting, but I won't be able to stop myself from giving it a go.

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