We all know a picky eater or two. Maybe you have that one friend who refuses to step foot in a sushi restaurant even though they’ve never tried it, or the one who turns their nose up at the mention of anything green. Maybe you’re the picky eater, avoiding culinary adventures at all costs, because you’re convinced you’ll hate whatever new and gross-looking food is put on your plate.
But why is it that some people are picky eaters when others are willing to try pretty much anything that’s edible? Turns out, there’s no single explanation for your picky eating habits, but experts believe it’s a combo of genetics and the environment are to blame. When we talk about a true picky eater, we’re talking about someone who avoids certain food groups, people who eat an unusually restricted range of foods.
A researcher at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia who specializes in food preferences says there are people who have neophobia, which literally means ‘fear of the new,’ and he found that there is some genetic basis for this. However neophobia can also be greatly influenced by your surroundings. If you have parents who don’t really like to try anything new, you will also be exposed to fewer new foods. Those who try new foods and have positive experiences are then more likely to try unfamiliar foods in the future.
Beyond fear, there’s the fact that different compounds in foods can smell and taste different to different people. One good example is cilantro, which some people love, and others find unbearably soapy—some people actually have a gene that makes them sensitive to a certain component in the herb. 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.
If you don’t like a certain meal you can simply just spit it out. But the problem is that the amount of money wasted on the meal is insane sometimes. However, trying different foods can at least slowly increase your chances of being able to try a new food without it being a problem. Obviously it’s not going to happen in one day, it’s going to take time. However nothing can happen if you don’t put in effort. I myself have definitely seen a difference in my eating habits.
But why is it that some people are picky eaters when others are willing to try pretty much anything that’s edible? Turns out, there’s no single explanation for your picky eating habits, but experts believe it’s a combo of genetics and the environment are to blame. When we talk about a true picky eater, we’re talking about someone who avoids certain food groups, people who eat an unusually restricted range of foods.
A researcher at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia who specializes in food preferences says there are people who have neophobia, which literally means ‘fear of the new,’ and he found that there is some genetic basis for this. However neophobia can also be greatly influenced by your surroundings. If you have parents who don’t really like to try anything new, you will also be exposed to fewer new foods. Those who try new foods and have positive experiences are then more likely to try unfamiliar foods in the future.
Beyond fear, there’s the fact that different compounds in foods can smell and taste different to different people. One good example is cilantro, which some people love, and others find unbearably soapy—some people actually have a gene that makes them sensitive to a certain component in the herb. 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.
If you don’t like a certain meal you can simply just spit it out. But the problem is that the amount of money wasted on the meal is insane sometimes. However, trying different foods can at least slowly increase your chances of being able to try a new food without it being a problem. Obviously it’s not going to happen in one day, it’s going to take time. However nothing can happen if you don’t put in effort. I myself have definitely seen a difference in my eating habits.