Melba's Jammin' > wrote in
:


> I repeat my question: Is there a difference between a fussy eater and
> a picky eater? How would you describe the differences?

Mmm, not sure. I think Rob (DH) is a picky eater - won't try things
because he just knows he won't like them by looking at them, goes off
foods so that he will no longer eat something he would eat a few months
ago. That's annoying and frustrating.

If someone tells you they can't/won't eat something so that you make
special arrangements, and then you find them eating that something with
no problems - that's annoying.

However, people who like particular things and not others, or who like
food arranged a certain way - maybe you could say fussy, but I think
they just have particular likes/dislikes. I think a key difference
between this and picky might be that they will eat the food if needs be
to avoid upsetting someone (provided it won't make them sick), won't
kick up a fuss, won't insist that their likes/dislikes disturb everyone
else, and they will try things they haven't had before.

If I'm having people for dinner I would check if there are any foods
they don't/can't eat and would, if possible, work around that. I want my
guests to enjoy themselves. So if Kimberley was coming to dinner and
told me she didn't like her beans and gravy to touch, I'd probably just
put the gravy in a gravy boat or jug so the guests could put it on their
plates themselves. I identify with this one - as a child I used to ask
my mother to put my canned fruit and custard (or icecream) in separate
bowls because I didn't like the way the syrup from the canned fruit
reacted with the custard or icecream.

I like to think I will try most things. There are, however, a few foods
I don't like. I have tried mushrooms several different ways and really
do not like them. I'm not terribly keen on olives but if they're in my
dinner I'll probably eat at least some of them. I don't eat offal - I've
tried liver and disliked it, and no desire to try the rest. That's about
it, I think. Some people might think I'm a picky or fussy eater.


Provided someone actually tries things, I don't think it's a failing
that there are a lot of foods they don't like.

My sister doesn't eat seafood of any sort - it's not an allergy or
intolerance. She's tried it, and doesn't like it. She cooks it for her
husband and children, but doesn't eat it herself. To me that's a valid
choice, but we often see when someone says "I don't like xyz", people
saying oh, you need to try it this way or you obviously haven't had it
cooked right etc. How about, they just don't like it!!

We don't disparage people who only like science fiction movies for
example, and don't want to watch movies of any other genre. We don't
disparage people who only like bourbon and don't want to drink other
spirits. Why is it different with foods?

--
Rhonda Anderson
Cranebrook, NSW, Australia

Core of my heart, my country! Land of the rainbow gold,
For flood and fire and famine she pays us back threefold.
My Country, Dorothea MacKellar, 1904