I notice quite a few people are coming to this site by means of searching to find what foods to offer when catering for a fussy eater. Which got me thinking as to whether there are any fail-safe universals on this score.
It seems to me we are a fairly diverse bunch, but I think there seem to be some basic rules of thumb. For example, it seems to be that plain food is best. The plainer the better, in fact. This means plain and simple textures as well as plain and simple flavours. So that rules out strong flavours, and all things hot and spicy. It also rules out things with bits in, or sauces on. Especially bad is a dish where it isn’t visually obvious what’s in it.
For me personally, something bread- or pastry-based is good, as is most meat (though preferred if it’s plain, rather than sauce- or vegetable-mixed). The main thing is to be able to avoid any vegetables and fruits, and any other unacceptable foods, and still leave something left on the plate. So non-mixed things, or things which are easily separable are good.
I usually say to people that as long as there is bread or potatoes, I’ll be fine. And then beyond that, I may or not be able to venture. I would say the main most important rule is to not be having attention drawn to my eating (or avoiding), and to know that no-one is offended or surprised by whether and what I do or don’t eat.
What do other people think? Are there any universally safe menu items we can all agree on? Or any universally dangerous ones?
I have a friend who finds it difficult to eat anything but fruit and vegetables (yes, she is thin), but maybe you could share the bread.
I think that the worst thing for a great many people is the prospect of an uneatable surprise in their food so I agree that sauces and bitty foods are the universally dangerous ones, as are unexpected combinations, like Sole Veronique (sole in a cream sauce with peeled grapes in, sorry). Fish is a bit tricky anyway, because of the prospect of unexpected bones.
If I were in the worrying position of doing a buffet meal for a convention of fussy eaters, I’d do a great many small bowls of different foods so that none of them touched each other, with the vegetables at one end, the meat at the other and the bread, rice cakes etc (because many people won’t touch wheat) in the middle so that they could choose what they liked without drawing attention to it.
Do you think that people who say they are allergic to many foods are sometimes hiding the fact that they are picky eaters? When my daughter was in her teens, she became vegetarian for a few years because she only liked beef and pork and it was easier not to eat meat at all than to be fussy about it.
Claire,
Wow, you and I are very insync on all points:
* Plain, Plain, Plain, textures, flavors and smells. No bits, chunks, surprises or secret sauces.
* Simple, separable and no mixes….love the breads and pastries but keep them simple. Don’t want to find any hidden surprises in my bread.
* Love the potatoes, but keep them simple, no sauces, creams or gravy unless its on the side.
*** Yes, yes, yes – no attention please. I do not want a special meal. Please do not go out of your way for me because chances are I won’t like it anyway and you will be hurt.
Universally safe foods for me is bread (love dark and whole grains) & potatoes (plain)…..
Universally dangerous is anything with a strong smell like, corned beef, cabbage, and fish….those type dishes I find difficult to keep on my plate or even fake eating.
thx
jack
I have become a wiz at eating in front of peole and getting away with being picky. I think, being a picky eater, it’s a skill you have to aquire. But I too hate when people try and accomodate my eating habits. It just highlights what I am slightly embarassed about already. I can find something most everywhere and if not I use, “oh, I ate before I came, I’m sorry”. It’s not perfect but people can’t really argue.
Potatoes, bread, chicken (nothing fancy, but no bones either), and definately no “surprise” dishes where you can’t tell what it is.