Being a picky eater is definitely hard. It gets much harder when it’s time to travel and see different parts of the world. It’s beautiful to see the sights and take in the culture, but it might feel scary — or even rude — when it’s time for dinner and you’re faced with a dish that is completely out of your comfort zone.
There are lots of common problems picky eaters have, especially when they go on a trip. Here are 60+ of them, that every picky person can relate to!
1. You’re excited to explore, but…
But you’re also kind of nervous about what kind of “interesting” food you might encounter.
2. Your family questions you
They start questioning you and your eating plans before you even set out on your adventure! How should you know in advance?
You know when you’re on a tour and sometimes the meals are predetermined? Yeah, that is a cause for some major anxiety. Have you no options?
4. Snacks, snacks, snacks
Oh yeah, you bet you are the person with tons of snacks in your backpack at all times. You know, just in case there is
nothing to eat while you are out.
5. You’re constantly judged by new friends
So you meet a new friend. You two are off to a great start… You both share similar interests and music taste, but then when they invite you out to lunch and you can’t eat anything on the menu, they definitely judge a little bit.
6. And you’re constantly questioned
If you admit you don’t like a certain sauce or spice, get ready to be questioned to no end!
7. Major judgment from waiters
Do you want to ask your server to remove a certain ingredient in your dish? Go ahead, but prepare for major judgment.
The language barrier absolutely gets in the way when traveling. Try telling an Italian-speaking adult that you don’t want any tomatoes in your pasta… Confusion for days.
9. Ordering the same stuff
Because it can be so intimidating, you usually wind up ordering the same thing over and over again when you are out. You may be a picky eater, but you don’t enjoy being bored either!
10. If your food is served and there’s a surprise ingredient…
You have two options. You can either complain to the waiter or push all the weird stuff to the side and hope your friends don’t judge. Neither options are ideal.
11. Maybe there’s a moment where you decide to live life on the edge
But then you immediately get sick, grossed out, and definitely regret it.
12. When you waste money on it
That’s the worst part though. It’s one thing to take a risk and then not love it and move on, it’s another thing when you spend loads of money on it… You’ll never get that back! Regrets all around!
13. Or maybe you suck it up and eat it
Only to find that it literally makes you sick.
Excuse me, please point to the nearest bathroom.
14. You apologize all the time
Of course, you just feel like a total burden during the whole trip, so you find yourself apologizing over and over again.
15. And you just feel constantly embarrassed
It’s who you are, it’s a part of your identity… And you can’t help it. You started to feel ashamed of it.
16. You spend a lot of time explaining things
So much wasted time goes to explaining why you can’t eat certain things… Why not just talk about fun things?
17. You spend a lot of time assuring people too
Yes, you definitely tried the food before and yes, you definitely did not like it. That is a fact. Sorry!
18. You are the most patient person ever
Being a picky eater comes with a lot of annoying things, but all of those annoying things ultimately teach you how to be super patient with people.
19. You need to check out a menu before going in
Having to go to a restaurant without being able to take a look at the menu beforehand cripples you with anxiety.
20. All of your favorite foods are on the kids’ menu
You don’t get it… Or maybe you do. Your favorite food is plain french fries anyway.
21. Pizza toppings? No, thanks.
Why mess with pizza toppings? Simple cheese is all you need. None of this Hawaiian pineapple and ham stuff.
22. You’re constantly being made fun of
And you deserve a break! There is nothing wrong with eating the same meal every day for the last ten years.
23. You secretly want to stick to the chain restaurants
Yes, you are out traveling the world, but there is something comforting about finding the nearest Olive Garden.
24. Sharing a meal is impossible
People just have to make everything too complicated. You can’t eat the same spices and ingredients that they can… So why bother trying to share?
25. Having dinner at a friend’s house isn’t that nice for you
Someone else preparing your food is not what you want. You don’t want any surprises. Sometimes you wish your friends could stick to other things, like watching movies or going for drinks together.
26. Traveling really just is not the move for you
You want to travel, but the foreign food just seems to risky. Maybe put that suitcase away.
27. You can feel the silent judges
When you order the mac and cheese again and people are silently judging, you can feel it. That is okay.
28. You always have some napkins handy
Because you are a pro at secretly spitting food into a napkin at the dinner table without people seeing.
29. You hate upscale restaurants
You don’t care how fancy it is, 12 courses of foreign-sounding ingredients sounds like your very own personal Hell.
30. Most ingredients boggle your mind
How do people voluntarily eat raw fish? Or bread crust? Or spinach? Or anything green? You truly don’t know.
31. Sometimes people get frustrated with you
You wish they knew that getting frustrated wasn’t going to solve your picky eating habits.
32. When you find the one thing you like at a restaurant
It’s game over. That is the only thing you are ordering for the rest of the trip. Safe.
33. When your friends buy food for you on a trip
They think they are giving you a nice surprise, but they don’t know that you actually can’t eat that and they just wasted their money. Now you seem rude, and then you feel bad for it.
When you’ve been out and exploring all day, and then it’s time to eat. Sometimes you only have two options: eating something you absolutely hate or starving to death.
35. Food basically shattering all travel plans
Yeah, it is not going to be easy. Especially if you’re traveling with other people. Might be best to just stay home.
Just…trust issues all around. Your mom, your friend, and your friendly server… they are all capable of poisoning your taste buds.
37. Trying hard to not judge others
The judgment goes both ways, to be honest. You usually find it really hard to not spoil someone’s trip and accidentally make a grossed out face at whatever dish they are eating.
38. You’re sick of your “usual” foods
But that doesn’t mean you’re going to change!
39. Asking a restaurant if you can still order from the children’s menu
You’re definitely not a child anymore, and you might be in a foreign land, but they should be able to understand that you are a picky eater.
