tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post1245531383455720575..comments2024-02-23T02:03:23.020-07:00Comments on The Eco Cat Lady Speaks: The Mysteries of Human TasteEcoCatLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-57628511960611561612016-03-17T00:29:42.876-06:002016-03-17T00:29:42.876-06:00Oh my! Well the first thing I've just gotta as...Oh my! Well the first thing I've just gotta ask is this: How do you know what ear wax tastes like?!?<br /><br />And your comments about food touching made me laugh out loud. My step-mom has a real "thing" about that. Dinner with my parents is always so complicated because everything is served in separate little dishes so nothing can touch. It sorta makes her crazy that I like to mix everything together as I eat. I have this elaborate system for piling things on my fork so that I get a little of everything in each bite.<br /><br />And your comments about smell are also very interesting. I've heard that a huge amount of what we think of as "taste" is actually smell - so maybe the fact that different people have different abilities to smell certain things impacts which foods they like and dislike. Hmmm....EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-50966916889010503992016-03-17T00:22:34.714-06:002016-03-17T00:22:34.714-06:00Really?!? I tried Vegemite once in New Zealand - o...Really?!? I tried Vegemite once in New Zealand - or maybe it was Marmite, not sure. But it literally took effort not to spit it out on the spot! I totally don't get it!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-38829232054211773412016-03-16T01:10:02.526-06:002016-03-16T01:10:02.526-06:00I've never had the opportunity to try oysters ...I've never had the opportunity to try oysters and I LOVE Vegemite!!Traceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00451416943813912617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-4167191761913961742016-03-15T19:12:30.859-06:002016-03-15T19:12:30.859-06:00I once saw an article in _National_Geographic_ tha...I once saw an article in _National_Geographic_ that had a scratch-and-sniff survey in it. I and a bunch of my friends took that survey. I could smell all the scents but one--turns out my friends say it smelled like spices. My boyfriend of the time also could smell all but one--the gym sock one. He would stick his nose right on the paper and not smell a thing!<br /><br />So I know that people have different taste preferences but they also taste things differently. <br /><br />Celery is the big food that shows me that people taste differently. Many people think it's basically flavorless but is a nice refreshing crunchy thing. It sure sounds great in the summer! But to me it is extremely bitter. It doesn't taste like anise to me, which I like; it tastes like ear wax. Yet I like it fine when it's cooked (such as in dressing and chicken soup).<br /><br />I consider myself a very picky eater, but it turns out lots of people are picky. I mainly don't like any vegetables except those in other food groups (potatoes and corn are starches, iceberg lettuce is water, pinto beans are proteins), though there are some exceptions (sweet potatoes, raw spinach and other lettuces are okay).<br /><br />Texture doesn't bug me. (Except maybe for soda--I prefer my liquids not bubbly.) It's the actual disgusting flavor that bugs me. Although the idea of some things squick me out so much that I don't even want to taste them (crickets).<br /><br />I don't like sweets in my savory food, but mostly because I'd rather save that sugar for dessert foods. I don't think it improves the food most of the time or "cuts the acid" or whatever. Same with adding salt to my desserts--I don't need salty chocolate and would rather save the salt for fries or popcorn or something.<br /><br />My boyfriend likes pretty much everything but cantaloupe and squash. He's also not into sweets at all except for dark chocolate, mousse, and custardy things.<br /><br />Things most people like but I don't: alcohol, coffee, tea, shrimp (and many, many more things I'm forgetting). And I don't really like raw berries (except when strawberries are sweet like at La Madeleine).<br /><br />Things most people don't like but I do: gefilte fish and liver pate are okay. Whole wheat bread and brown rice are good. And I'm happy to take most desserts off the hands of all those people on diets. And I don't generally mind mixing things that shouldn't go together (or having foods on my plate touch) as much as some other people do. I can keep them separate in my head.<br /><br />And I have different feelings about related foods. I like processed tomatoes but not fresh. I like soy sauce (a lot) but not fish sauce (at all). I like strong hot chocolate (lots of cocoa), but prefer it made with skim milk than with cream.<br /><br />I never liked milk (except with rich desserts like cookies or cake) until that time I worked at summer camp (outside, temperatures from 80 to 105 all day) and our drink choices were tepid water, tepid punch, or ice cold milk.<br /><br />I once had a friend who had to eat everything on his plate growing up and so he didn't form strong preferences, because those were irrelevant. For example, for him, there were two kinds of cheese: yellow and white. His main answer when I asked for food preferences was "Anything handy is pretty favorite."Debbie Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-90902552945772429882016-03-11T12:33:44.061-07:002016-03-11T12:33:44.061-07:00Seriously... ANY food? Even raw oysters or Vegemit...Seriously... ANY food? Even raw oysters or Vegemite?EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-88636321900310305792016-03-11T11:42:39.392-07:002016-03-11T11:42:39.392-07:00To quote one of my sons, "there's no know...To quote one of my sons, "there's no known food that my mother wouldn't eat"!! I do have preferences (I'd rather eat veg than meat and I'm not keen on cooked bananas) but he's pretty much correct.Traceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00451416943813912617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-4266890036539409202016-03-10T12:01:31.464-07:002016-03-10T12:01:31.464-07:00OK... that's a new one. I've heard people ...OK... that's a new one. I've heard people say that it tastes like soap, but never BO! EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-16387202492034003402016-03-10T12:00:33.165-07:002016-03-10T12:00:33.165-07:00Yes, yes... it's my evil mother's fault!! ...Yes, yes... it's my evil mother's fault!! No, actually, I don't think so. But I am lactose intolerant - which might explain why I enjoy things like cheese & yogurt but hate milk. I actually love lactose free milk in my coffee - it doesn't exactly taste like milk. I suppose it would make sense that one would develop a distaste for things that made one sick. <br /><br />CatMan tells a story about his sister, who, when growing up always insisted that she was allergic to corn. Everyone thought she was just making up stories to justify the fact that she didn't like it. Many years later, as an adult, she got tested and discovered that she was indeed allergic to corn! So who knows!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-82369464836487581192016-03-10T01:23:38.110-07:002016-03-10T01:23:38.110-07:00Cilantro tastes like BO smells. How anyone can vo...Cilantro tastes like BO smells. How anyone can voluntarily put it in their mouth is beyond me!Playing Hookyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15115396047958755808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-90807467195078998322016-03-10T01:21:43.460-07:002016-03-10T01:21:43.460-07:00NicolaB - right on sister! ;)
Cat - the stew you ...NicolaB - right on sister! ;)<br /><br />Cat - the stew you describe is proof that the devil exists. <br />Re milk - odd that you should find the fluid revolting, but love some things made from it, such as cheese, which is merely the revoltingness concentrated. Taste is indeed a peculiar phenomenon.<br />I'm wondering whether any of your allergies can be attributed to your parents' insistence that you drink milk with every mealPlaying Hookyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15115396047958755808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-13055519848696248842016-03-09T20:15:38.334-07:002016-03-09T20:15:38.334-07:00Awwww... you're so sweet with your kind words ...Awwww... you're so sweet with your kind words about me & CatMan. It's funny, most people I know would not want the kind of relationship that we have - they just can't get past the fact that it doesn't "look right." But I think there is great power in accepting each other as we are and not trying to force anything into a pre-defined box.<br /><br />Anyhow, I didn't used to like spicy foods, but somewhere along the line I developed a taste for them. Though at the moment I'm sorta questioning that decision because my parents took me out for yummy spicy Vietnamese food on my birthday, and I've been suffering with horrible heartburn ever since! So, I dunno... might have to start a new category of foods that I love but that don't love me back!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-30911941665719802016-03-09T20:10:35.386-07:002016-03-09T20:10:35.386-07:00OK - that's fascinating about the grapefruit! ...OK - that's fascinating about the grapefruit! I didn't like it much as a child, so maybe that's why. <br /><br />And CatMan claims that greens get more bitter when they are cooked - I don't really share that opinion, but who knows... he must be reacting to something!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-57360517838683329672016-03-09T20:08:52.928-07:002016-03-09T20:08:52.928-07:00True... I know WAY more on the subject than I'...True... I know WAY more on the subject than I'd like to. And before I had these allergies, I'd never even heard of celeriac - still don't know what it is.EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-21350316424423167792016-03-09T18:58:32.056-07:002016-03-09T18:58:32.056-07:00I think the most interesting part of this was the ...I think the most interesting part of this was the fact that you and CatMan did the experiment. It got me thinking how you two have such a good relationship. Now if I could find a man who could respect the fact I didn't want to live with him but who shared so many of my interests and we could have fun learning together I'd have found the perfect relationship.<br /><br />The idea of super tasters is interesting but not enough to dye my tongue. Reading your list of likes and dislikes I can find foods on both lists I enjoy or dislike. <br /><br />My dislikes are anise. It's so bad I can't even stand the smell of it when it's being used to bake and can smell it in the entire house. Hot sauce and any really spicy foods which means all cajun foods are out. I don't want to burn my tongue and prefer to actually taste the ingredients. I don't like pepperoni and other processed meats (even when I ate meat) and never could stand the taste of milk or coffee. <br /><br />On the other hand, I love lima beans and could eat them every day of the week. Also on the list of foods I enjoy would be most all fruits, most vegetables and chocolate!! <br /><br />Lois@Living In Denimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368939902298894344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-20427822179973729862016-03-09T14:06:43.243-07:002016-03-09T14:06:43.243-07:00I love this discussion! One I'd love to know s...I love this discussion! One I'd love to know scientifically is: I detest cooked greens (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, spinach, etc.)--both the taste and just the smell of them. But I think they are pretty lovely raw. My husband and daughter (neither genetically related) are the opposite--won't touch them raw, like most of the cooked.<br /><br />With grapefruit, did you know it tastes a lot sweeter than it did 20 years ago? I used to eat it with sugar, but think it's lovely now. But that might be due to the breeding!AnnMariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05505967972774910106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-63300787401623350022016-03-08T15:29:03.397-07:002016-03-08T15:29:03.397-07:00It means he is lucky and gets to enjoy the wonder ...It means he is lucky and gets to enjoy the wonder of mushrooms!! :)<br /><br />Interesting that those are all in the same family- I like celeriac (but only in soup with apple) parsnips, carrots and coriander but not very keen on the rest. I suppose allergies mean you end up knowing a lot about which plants are related!<br />NicolaBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01542310810409358114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-2029964864478826222016-03-07T20:41:09.125-07:002016-03-07T20:41:09.125-07:00Interesting... I LOVE shellfish, but can no longer...Interesting... I LOVE shellfish, but can no longer eat it due to allergies. Of course... looking back on my love of crab and lobster as a child - it may have had more to do with the fact that it was served with a little cup of melted butter - the only time I ever got real butter as a child, and I LOVED it!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-58344998223481155382016-03-07T20:39:04.490-07:002016-03-07T20:39:04.490-07:00Very interesting... so the food texture thing - th...Very interesting... so the food texture thing - the idea is that people with a SPD would be hyper-sensitive to the textures of certain foods. That makes total sense.EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-19660403268411556112016-03-07T20:01:13.812-07:002016-03-07T20:01:13.812-07:00I like everything on your like list and most stuff...I like everything on your like list and most stuff on your dislike list, but I do hate wintergreen and licorice. I can't stand anything fish or seafood. I don;t understand people's love of lobster.pilch92https://www.blogger.com/profile/12263559408792146826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-5822958086576323592016-03-07T18:10:19.024-07:002016-03-07T18:10:19.024-07:00A sensory processing disorder ... well, our brains...A sensory processing disorder ... well, our brains are constantly interpreting input from all of our senses--touch, smell, taste, sound, vision ... and we react to those sensations. Some people don't process this information properly--they may over-respond or under-respond to sensory information and it can make it hard for them to have the correct behavior. Imagine, for instance, that scratchy feeling you get when the tag on your shirt is bothering you. Now imagine that you are a 7 year old kid and your entire outfit feels scratchy and uncomfortable. Are you going to sit quietly in class, listen to the teacher, and respond appropriately to your peers, or are you going to be fidgety, distractible, and irritable? This is one example of a sensory processing disorder. This link is a great resource if you want more information. It's pretty fascinating stuff. http://www.spdfoundation.net/about-sensory-processing-disorder/Krisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-75425588311331597352016-03-07T17:05:51.646-07:002016-03-07T17:05:51.646-07:00Well, your celery thing actually has some basis in...Well, your celery thing actually has some basis in fact. I'm violently allergic to celery and almost everything in the same plant family, and most of them do have that anise taste. So technically, it's the parsley family, and it includes: anise, caraway, carrot, celeriac, celery, coriander (cilantro), dill, fennel, parsley & parsnip. The only one of these that I can eat is carrots - but ONLY if they are well cooked and don't include any of the green color that you sometimes get near the top. So anyhow, it's not strange to me that celery would taste like anise.<br /><br />And the gender mushroom thing is fascinating! CatMan loves them, whatever that means!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-65414255011296373242016-03-07T16:51:45.729-07:002016-03-07T16:51:45.729-07:00OK... I totally LOVE your doctor's advice abou...OK... I totally LOVE your doctor's advice about the salt! Seriously, I've craved it my entire life, and I feel much better when I get enough of it - I'm able to stand up without the world going black etc. I actually sometimes take a salt supplement when I go on long bike rides and it really helps me.<br /><br />Anyhow, I totally agree about not trying to force kids to eat foods that they hate. And now I really have to go Google "Sensory Processing Disorder" to figure out what the heck it is!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-39526746241204933522016-03-07T16:47:08.057-07:002016-03-07T16:47:08.057-07:00OK... the connection of the food texture thing wit...OK... the connection of the food texture thing with sensory problems is fascinating. What does that mean exactly? I mean, what is a "sensory problem"? Like trouble with eyesight or something?<br /><br />Anyhow, I didn't used to like lima beans because I thought of them as a mealy vegetable, but one day it occurred to me that they are beans! And suddenly when I started thinking of them like garbanzos or pintos, I decided that I loved them. How bizarre is that? Mentally re-categorizing the food changed my perception of it? Hmmm....<br /><br />Anyhow, I think you've got a very sensible approach with feeding your family. No point bashing your head into a brick wall and making everyone miserable along the way!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-50172784592144663432016-03-07T16:42:37.846-07:002016-03-07T16:42:37.846-07:00It is bizarre... and I think the smell thing is hu...It is bizarre... and I think the smell thing is huge. With peanuts, I actually don't mind the taste so much, but the smell turns my stomach - it's just sooo strong!<br /><br />And the texture thing is also quite valid. I LOVE dark meat - thighs and legs all the way baby. If I have to eat a chicken breast I can sometimes make myself do it if it's smothered in something, but otherwise I just find it dry and mealy and yucky. So it's definitely a texture thing for me with chicken. And liver... oy! That's definitely a texture thing too.EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-56101678874765075332016-03-07T16:37:59.969-07:002016-03-07T16:37:59.969-07:00OK, I have to disagree about fruit in savory dishe...OK, I have to disagree about fruit in savory dishes, I LOVE it! Like sweet and sour pork... yum! And one of my very favorite dishes is a spicy Mexican stew made with pork, chicken, sweet potatoes, apples & bananas.<br /><br />Milk though... except in very specific situation, or when used as an ingredient in certain dishes - it's just revolting to me. It's always seemed like drinking a glass of phlegm to me. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that we were only allowed skim milk as a child, and I HATED it. But I wasn't allowed to leave the table until I'd drunk my milk. So I'd let it sit there until it was warm and disgusting, and then I'd have to hold my nose and chug it. It still makes me want to puke just thinking about it!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.com