It’s really hard to remember why we made such a fuss about certain foods. Beets used to taste like dirt, Spam looked suspicious, and somehow both now feel weirdly comforting. Tastes change, and these once-hated bites have found their way back onto grown-up plates. Turns out, some things just needed a second chance, and maybe a better recipe.
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Brussels Sprouts
The sight and smell of Brussels sprouts cooking made me feel sick as a kid before I even ate them. Growing up, if I'd had a dog, he would've had more than his fill as I "accidentally" dropped them. As adults, it seems like many of us realized that the method they were being prepared (boiled or steamed) was the problem.
Coffee
Honestly, who among us loved coffee as a kid? It was so bitter and nothing like the sweet sodas or juices we were used to. Now, coffee is the fuel that keeps us going. It’s not just about the kick but also the rich, complex flavors we’ve come to appreciate whether from a plain old drip or a fancy espresso machine.
Lima Beans
You might want to give them another shot if you hated lima beans as a kid. One food lover mentioned that they always hated them as a kid, only to accidentally eat one in a mix of vegetables and realize how tasty they are.
Parsnips
Parsnips don't have much flavor on their own, which is likely why many kids found them bland or unsavory. However, roast them with plenty of spices or add them to a soup or stew, and you might enjoy them more than potatoes, as one user said they do.
Dark Chocolate
As a kid, dark chocolate was too bitter for my taste; I'd always sneak the sweeter milk chocolate instead. But as an adult, it’s a whole different story. That rich, intense flavor? It’s like a secret the grown-up world kept hidden. Plus, it’s good for you, packing in antioxidants that make each bite feel a little less guilty.
Lentils
Depending on how sensitive you were/are to the texture of the food you eat, it makes sense that people hated lentils as kids. Even if they're adequately prepared, lentils have a texture that can be unsettling to some. One of the best ways to prepare them is in a soup or stew so they can expand and soak up whatever spices you choose.
Spam
The top user who mentioned this said their mom declared spam "disgusting." They added that their mother thinks anything not swimming in a sauce or butter or anything that has vegetables is gross. They concluded their childhood distaste for spam: "The more I'm thinking about it, the more I'm just realizing my mom has bad taste and isn't a fantastic cook."
Onions
Onions were one of the top-hated items in users' childhoods. Some didn't care for them, while others stated that they felt they didn't get enough exposure to them or weren't cooked properly. One user even said they eat them daily despite their allergy.
Beets
If you've only had canned beets or "weird salads at the cafeteria," like one user mentioned having as a kid, it's no surprise you wouldn't enjoy them. It seems like most people who don't like beets have not had them prepared properly. (Hint: Slice them up and bake them, or look up a recipe for beet carpaccio.)
Green Olives
Multiple people mentioned green olives, but other salty, intensely flavored, and vinegary foods made the list alongside olives. One person said they loved black olives but found the green ones gross. As a kid, I was not too fond of green olives either, and I'm still not.
Cheese
A few people listed specific types of cheese they hated that weren't surprising to see on the list, like blue cheese or Brie. However, I wasn't expecting to see how many people said they hated cheese in general or unoffensive types of cheese like Kraft singles or cream cheese.
Asparagus
I'm also in the camp of "I hated asparagus as a kid and love to eat it now," so I was not entirely surprised to see how many users mentioned it. Several people pointed out that they only like asparagus now because they know how to prepare it properly. (Hint: Try baking or sautéing rather than boiling or steaming.)
Source: Reddit.
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