#I can't believe people don't normally separate their food and fruit

[the-writing-goblin]

Also: be nice if someone eats something in a way that is not 'normal'.

It is fine if someone separates the textures! It's fine if someone picks something out that has a texture they don't like! It's fine if someone eats slowly! You shouldn't judge someone for eating in a way you think is weird!

Personally, the texture of a lot of fruits/vegetables is tough for me. It's taken me a long time to work out 'safe' ways of eating those foods so I get the right nutrients, and so I usually don't eat them when I'm in a public setting because I can't control how they are prepared. I will pick them out of my meal if they are unpleasant. Yes, I have had people comment on it. Yes, I have been told I eat like a little kid. Yes, I have been told that the way I eat is 'unhealthy'. You have no idea how long it took me to stop believing that about myself.

If you eat in a 'weird' way: That's FINE you are not responsible to anyone else about the way you eat. You don't have to justify your decisions to anyone else.

Respect people's boundaries. It's that easy. listen to what they tell you, and do your best to explain unfamiliar things to them and accept when they say no.

people are absolutely EVIL about the boundaries of “picky eaters”. no, they do not have to try it. yes, they can know they don’t like it without having eaten it before. no, they probably have not suddenly grown a taste for the food they’ve said they hate. no, they probably are not going to like it in the Special Way This One Place Cooks It. yes, you are being a bad friend if you try to “trick” them into eating it anyway