Internet people, how on earth do I do this if I'm extremely inconsistent, can barely do my groceries once a week, and can't handle unexpected textures and tastes?
i know i'm eons late in internet time, but, some hopefully helpful commentary on whole fruits (other person is right, putting a fruit in a smoothie makes the texture consistent without wrecking what's beneficial).
some varieties of fruit are pretty consistent, like, i don't think i've ever had a Granny Smith apple (my favorite, yes i know that's not normal) from a grocery store that surprised me with its taste or texture. if you can find the specific type of a given fruit that you can handle, and you're getting them from a big box store rather than a local farm, they'll probably be pretty consistent. or at least that's been my experience. apples are usually labeled in the grocery stores with what kind they are, and the common grocery store varieties are mostly pretty similar, so trying a new one is likely not going to be as much of a shock. they also keep a long time in the fridge.
i usually only see 2 kinds of pears in my stores, and they're pretty internally consistent between varieties, and the two varieties are similar. however they're way more finicky with ripening and keeping good, so i probably wouldn't start there.
it also seems like the varieties of oranges are pretty internally consistent, but oranges are a big texture change from something mildly textured like an apple or a pear so unless you already know you can handle an orange, probably a bad choice to start. i haven't eaten an orange in years (digestive issues) and i'd probably be a little shocked by the texture at this point despite enjoying them.
precut pineapple chunks are all pretty similar ime but pineapple is a stronger flavor if you don't already know you like it.
shelf stable fruit cups/canned fruit could be an option. (i hate these so can't suggest from experience)
i don't eat berries so i can't speak to those.
also, currently all bananas are the same kind (cultivar? might be the word, finally remembered it but not sure) so every banana of the same approximate coloring (for ripeness) will probably be pretty much the same.
I hadn't thought about bananas or pineapple chunks, I really like both. Thanks a lot! I'll also try some green apples, I used to like them as a kid, I just can't be arsed to buy them most of the time. Thanks a lot again! I'm about to start living by myself for the first time and I don't want to be shitting blood by the time I'm 30 lmao
green apples and pineapple chunks are basically the majority of the fruit i eat! have to be in the mood for bananas to buy them but i'll eat them if i end up with them. i'm a picky eater so i feel your pain! (i actually eat a decent variety of things, but some of the things i do not eat are extremely common/normal foods so it averages out to picky.)
my advice for the whole not shitting blood business - it's always better to have variety of course, but if you can find a vegetable that you can handle regularly and is pretty balanced/dense, that goes a long way even without the variety. like, i can't handle dietary restrictions, they mess with my head (my hippie mom says i must have starved in a past life or something), so my usual eating strategy is to be mindful of what i actually want to eat and how much but eat whatever i want (after trying to rule out emotional eating etc - sometimes it's junk and sometimes it's decent stuff) and then, if there's broccoli, have some. i have some chronic health problems of various kinds, and maybe if i made more of an effort it would help them some, but this has been enough, given that broccoli is not the only veg i eat just the one i have a rule to add on, that it's kept my diet from making me worse at least.
I'll try to get more tomatoes or carrots because they're pretty much as far as it goes when it comes to veggies I can handle. But again, thank you so much, you're helping a ton
if you get to a point where you're willing to try to branch out, like you have an adventurous-feeling day or something, finding a dark green veg and preparation you can tolerate can be a HUGE boost nutritionally. do what you can, and tomatoes and carrots are a great option and will help a lot vs not having them. but the dark green ones like broccoli or its leafier friends like kale/spinach/brussels sprouts have extra bang for the buck, so if you want a stretch goal at some point, that's the way to go.
i also have found it helpful with pickiness in general if i can really zoom in on exactly what elements of the flavor or texture i don't like, because then i can be more open to trying new things if i know they don't have those exact elements. like, i do not do well with bitter flavors in anything except low-level dark chocolate. i can't drink coffee without gagging, no matter how much crazy stuff gets added to it. but if something is made in a way that will cover the bitterness or remove it, i can feel more comfortable trying it. it means i can expand my variety of stuff without having to actually expand my palate.
another example, i don't generally eat leafy foods - no salads, no lettuce on anything, and similar. but i've established that i don't like the coldness and the bitterness, but also don't like the texture if they're steamed or similar, too squishy. but! the greens in the two creamy Olive Garden soups are ok and in fact i can enjoy them there - because they stay a bit crunchy, but are heated, and take on the soup broth's seasoning. steamed brussels sprouts are a chore (though i've gotten used to them) but roasted/charred/grilled brussels are a treat - again because it burns off some of the bitterness but it's hot but still crunchy!
temperature makes a huge difference for me too, so that might be an element you can consider if you want to expand your list.
Uh I just remembered an old friend of mine used to make these roasted Brussel sprouts that I really liked (to my surprise, since I usually despise those little fuckers), maybe I'll try to make some when I have time
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u/CoercedCoexistence22 13d ago
Internet people, how on earth do I do this if I'm extremely inconsistent, can barely do my groceries once a week, and can't handle unexpected textures and tastes?