They tried it, they love it. You tried it, you don't.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by SydneyK

I'm thankful that my parents raised me to try something before claiming not to like it. I've met so many people who will say they don't like something when they've never even tried it. (Aside: This is something I refuse to let my kids get away with. If they haven't tried something, I won't let them tell me they don't like it. And they pretty much have to take one bite of everything on their plates. Mean Mommy, I know. But looking at this sampling of ultrapicky GCers, I'm reassured that I'm doing the right thing!)

My parents raised me the same way. I wasn't allowed to reject a food until I had tried it at least once. I still approach new things that way. So you're definitely doing the right thing with your kids.

The trouble was, my parents would try to trick me into thinking I'd never tried a particular food, in order to get me to try it again, in the hopes that I would like it the second/third/twentieth time around. They did this with brussels sprouts...

Sunday evening: Mom has prepared brussels sprouts as the veggie for Sunday dinner.
Me: What's that?
Mom: Brussels sprouts.
Me: (wrinkles nose) Yuck.
Mom: Just try one. (puts one on my plate)
Me: (takes a bite, spits it out) YUCK!
Mom: At least you tried it.

The VERY NEXT Sunday evening: Mom again prepares brussels sprouts.
Me: I don't like brussels sprouts.
Dad: How do you know? You've never tried them.
Me: I tried them just last week!

Depending on what kind of mood my dad was in, I either got an "oh, you're right, ok, you're off the hook" or a "shut up and eat it" ... usually the latter.

</threadjack>

Oh, and I forgot earlier - I hate avocado. Can't stand guacamole. Won't eat California rolls. My favorite sushi restaurant puts avocado in more than half of their rolls, so my menu choices are somewhat limited. Fortunately, my husband and I are in agreement on this one.