How do I tell the foodie hosting me I'm a very picky eater?

[Anonymous]

OP you need to think of some allergies and food intolerances ASAP that is what everyone else is doing. So sorry I am eating some yogurt Some people are really pushy about the " joy" of odd new things they cooked

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll go as your stunt double

[Anonymous]

OP, how old are you?

Not just because of your pickiness, but I imagine you to be very young and immature if you honestly think this is something you should bring up with anyone - instead of completely swallowing the burden yourself.

Ok, you've got your extreme picky food issues. But pretty quickly as an adult you learn to accept the reality for yourself and not have others accommodate you (host, other guests, etc). It's your issue alone to deal with. That you even had to ask this question makes me think you're still really young.

[Anonymous]

Geez, what is up with people calling OP unrefined, immature and the like? If OP genuinely can't eat even mildly spicy food or else have a reaction, how is that OP's fault?? And unrefined? As if eating certain foods makes you refined? What a joke.

OP, if you were my good friend, I would like to know your restrictions and would try to serve a few items that you could eat.

[Anonymous]

Just decline. I can't imagine living with your food restrictions- but your friend sounds like a complete bitch about the situation. Don't put yourself through it. I have a friend who has a very similar palate to you and I would never dream of harassing her about it or trying to force her to broaden her diet. She's an adult, it's not my job to change how she eats. I think it's sad and she's missing out on yummy things, but that's her choice. If we go out for dinner, I don't suggest ethnic places. I would only invite her to a dinner party if I was planning a menu that had things she would eat.

To her credit, she never complains or makes comments about what other people are eating and is apologetic and acknowledges it's her own weird food issues at play if it does come up. As long as you're polite, it's incredibly rude for a host to point something like this out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she's your friend, doesn't she already know that you're a very picky eater. I mean she's watched you sit there and eat crackers and plain naan -- how much more indication does she need that your family (or maybe just you) are not the ones who will enjoy a Mexican meal?

I'd decline this dinner and then maybe go out with her separately (not for food -- coffee or drinks) and tell her straight up that you love spending time with her and her family, but these are your food issues and they aren't about to change, and you don't feel like you want to be at her house being scrutinized for what you do/don't eat or being "taught" who to eat good food. She'll either accept that and invite you over next time and say "I'm doing chicken and potatoes, is that ok" or she'll be offended and will wonder how you were ever friends, and that'll be the end of dining with her.

I think that this is good advice. You are who you are. She knows it, and she should accept who you are -- not comment on what you're eating or not eating, or try to get you to eat things she thinks you should eat. Your food issues are your problem to solve or not solve, not hers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geez, what is up with people calling OP unrefined, immature and the like? If OP genuinely can't eat even mildly spicy food or else have a reaction, how is that OP's fault?? And unrefined? As if eating certain foods makes you refined? What a joke.

OP, if you were my good friend, I would like to know your restrictions and would try to serve a few items that you could eat.

Hi OP! How's that yogurt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geez, what is up with people calling OP unrefined, immature and the like? If OP genuinely can't eat even mildly spicy food or else have a reaction, how is that OP's fault?? And unrefined? As if eating certain foods makes you refined? What a joke.

OP, if you were my good friend, I would like to know your restrictions and would try to serve a few items that you could eat.

Hi OP! How's that yogurt?

LOL. I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought that was a sockpuppet!

[Anonymous]

Dietary restrictions and pickiness are two different things. If you accept the invite and then get all "I won't drink wine, what's that mush?, no lemon in that water, is that chili pepper flecks I see in there?" then no worries, you'll never be invited back!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geez, what is up with people calling OP unrefined, immature and the like? If OP genuinely can't eat even mildly spicy food or else have a reaction, how is that OP's fault?? And unrefined? As if eating certain foods makes you refined? What a joke.

OP, if you were my good friend, I would like to know your restrictions and would try to serve a few items that you could eat.

OP could have chicken nuggets and Mac-n-cheese with the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geez, what is up with people calling OP unrefined, immature and the like? If OP genuinely can't eat even mildly spicy food or else have a reaction, how is that OP's fault?? And unrefined? As if eating certain foods makes you refined? What a joke.

OP, if you were my good friend, I would like to know your restrictions and would try to serve a few items that you could eat.

Hi OP! How's that yogurt?

Because having sympathy for OP and not criticizing automatically means I'm OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dietary restrictions and pickiness are two different things. If you accept the invite and then get all "I won't drink wine, what's that mush?, no lemon in that water, is that chili pepper flecks I see in there?" then no worries, you'll never be invited back!

Seriously. Do we even need to make this statement?

[Anonymous]

Wow - you are neurotic.

Cornish hen = chicken.

Venison = similar to steak (deer - I love it prepared properly, and I grew up in a religion that does not allow for eating lots of things like shellfish, venison, etc.).

Just eat the meat and dont use the gravy - and eat a small portion of the meat and pack up on veggies. Whats the big deal? I really hope that even if you dont appreciate the food, you PRETEND that you do.

[Anonymous]

If she asks about any dietary restrictions or preferences, tell her you can't do spicy.

If she offers you alcohol, say "no, thank you" and drink water instead.

Otherwise, say nothing and try to enjoy what you are served.

If you can't do that, decline, but you should be able to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll go as your stunt double

Love this! thanks for the chuckle.