My parents made sure that my sister and I grew up to be adventurous eaters.
When we were little, they instructed us to take a little taste of everything offered. If we didn’t like a particular food, they wouldn’t force us to eat any more; all we had to do was say “No thank you.” Did anyone else grow up with this rule? The idea behind the concept is that if you don’t try something, you’ll never know if you like it! I can’t tell you how many of my friends stuck up their noses at my pb&banana sammies in elementary school (before pb&b became a popular entity), without ever having a bite. Their loss! 
Speaking of peanut butter…
Finally, peanut butter is starting to feel the love.
Finally, people are choosing it as their fat-of-choice for Hug-a-Fat Month.
(Forget color: I dream in chocolate)
Definition of “self-restraint” is:
Hugging a jar of Dark Chocolate Dreams when what I really want to do is bust it open and devour the chocolatey contents. (Don’t worry; that came later 
.)
But now that pb is good and taken care of, we still have one tiny issue…
.
/
Where be my Avocado Huggers???
I figured avocados would be the most popular fat to hug, but not a single person has hugged one yet! It’s a messy job, but someone’s gotta do it (and it ain’t gonna be me, because I don’t like the poor green guys). So someone else must do the dirty work.
Other huggers that are MIA:
1. Coconut oil
2. Nuts
3. Chia or Flax seeds
In other words, we’ve got a lot of lonely fats! Go get your hug on .
.
..
.
Question of the Day:
What foods do you say “No thank you” to? I’m a pretty good eater; there aren’t many foods I dislike. (I certainly wouldn’t look as upset as the girl above if someone gave me a bowl full of brussels sprouts!). But the avocado is one food I just can’t bring myself to like, no matter how many “no thank you” tastes I take. (Every now and then, I’ll try it again, hoping my tastebuds have changed.) Other “no thank you” foods: hijiki, durian, and pepper.
P.S. Yes, I do know that Smuckers fluff isn’t raw.
I just neglected to think about that when I titled my post “Raw S’mores Fudge” yesterday.
Sorry for the confusion
.
{ 61 comments… read them below or add one }
oh i think i’ll always detest parsnips and rutabagas.. anytime i try to love them.. they just dont seem to love me back. eek.
i need to try durian still because its so hit or miss with people. i just dont wanna smell it cuz im sure that would throw me off!!! lol
Hi Katie,
I just wanted to let you know that I made your “High Protein chocolate Brownies” over the weekend and they were SOOOOOOOOO good!
The best part was that I didn’t feel guilty for eating the entire thing in the course of two days all by myself! Thanks so much for a great recipe. I’m excited to try more
.
I definitely say no to raisins…unless they’re VERY well hidden in a food
Hooraaahhh fats
Do people tell you all the time how beautiful you are? You’re glowing, even in black and white!
Just say no. To tomatoes, that is!
I just cannot get into chia seeds! I’ve tried, but it won’t happen. Oh well, haha.
I loooove avocados and have one at home. maybe i’ll hug it tonight.
there are not many foods I say no thank you to! I honestly can’t even think of one right now. sad.
I must agree with Kelsey on the rutabegas. Bu luckily they’re not a veggie one encounters very often. On another topic, I also must agree with Inspired
. You ARE beautiful; a very good model for the vegan cause.
what is the deal with nooch? am i the only one who detests the stuff?
I am not a fan of onions, raw or cooked. However, I am a BIG fan of that peanut butter you’re hugging
.
We had a similar rule in our house. You had to try everything and if you didn’t like it you weren’t forced to eat it. I usually ate everything.
I like almost everything vegan, but I’ll definitely pass on fennel, aniseed, tempeh, arame, and grape juice. No thank you.
oh katie i loooooooove that dark chocolate peanut butter. annd it’s all thanks to you that i ever tried it. before i started reading your blog, i wouldn’t touch peanut butter with a ten foot pole (too fattening). but you got me over my fear and i am so so grateful because that stuff is heaven!
I just wanted to say how much I love reading your blog! I just made the transition from Vegetarian to Vegan and your blog has been so helpful and inspirational! I really enjoy reading all your posts! Keep up the great work!
And if I had to pick my favorite fat, it would definitely be either avocados or almond butter. Yummm!!
Hey Katie! Was wondering if you would ever offer us a photoshop tutorial? I love how you make the entire picture black and white and then have a single item in color…but I can’t figure out how to do this! A tutorial post would be PHENOMENAL!!
I’m the same..pretty adventurous but there’s a few guys I just won’t touch with a pole!
I don’t like peanut butter (gasp!!) no matter how many times I’ve tried to like it…and onions and shrimp are blech to me!
I’ll say no to almost anything actually, except fresh fruit and salads.But that’s not normal,really:))
I literally like EVERYTHING! There is absolutely nothing I dislike. However there are things that I am not that bothered about and therefore I don’t choose to eat them. I love food and prefer natural healthy food to sugar and additive laden cr*p! I love fish, fruit and veg…. So I avoid the maccie ds and deep fried mars bars (!!) but don’t dislike them.
(ps LOVE brussels sprouts and would happily eat a bowl! especially if they were roasted).
And on a separate note I still have not been able to find chocolate peanut butter in the UK and that is something I am SURE I’ll like – I love the mix of chocolate and peanut butter!
Sorry – favourite fat…. oooh that’s too tough a call.
I LOOVE avocados.
Favourite ways to eat avocados? Cut in 1/2. Salt a little and scoop out with a spoon.
Also excellent on Salads, and in CHOCOLATE Avocado Mousse!
Recipe on Dr. OZ.com:
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/chocolate-avocado-mousse
um. um. off the top of my head? um. I have a really broad palate – I even didn’t mind durian (although it’s not like I went out of my way to eat it again after I tasted it that one time). I’ll try everything. but, I don’t really like fried foods. the greasiness gives me a headache, so I avoid when possible. and I don’t put salt on anything!
ps- dont know which looks better, you or the dark chocolate dream
Mmm avocados. One of my fav meals is a grilled avocado sandwich: make like a grilled cheese, but with mashed avocado, slices of tomato, and some bean sprouts. Makes my taste buds dance.
Foods I don’t like…lima beans? Maybe I just haven’t had them the right way though. Oh I know, tahini! Ugh, puts me off and I don’t know why. I would like to try it again, but it always comes in these large jars at my grocery. I don’t want to waste food and my money if I really don’t like it.
I think that’s an awesome rule! It would get my family to try all my creations
I *almost* hugged an avocado but I thought that’s what everyone else would do!
I say to no celery (blech) and sugar snap peas
Anonymous,
I am SO excited you tried–and liked–the protein chocolate brownies
JCD,
I’ll take your arame!
Elizabeth,
Wow, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to leave such a sweet comment. It really brightened my day!!
Sara,
.
LOL I can’t believe it! But then again, I guess I’m not one to judge. I didn’t like pizza or soda when I was little and would bring a sandwich to birthday parties! I’ll happily take any pb you don’t want
I’ve always been a great eater, but I can’t stand okra! I’ve also never liked Twinkies or Ding Dongs or other Hostess stuff. Can’t say I’m disappointed.
Samantha,
.
I would love to… but I don’t think many people have Photoshop, so the post would be useless to them. So instead, I’ll just tell you here
Here’s how I did it:
I used the magnetic lasso to highlight the pb jar. Then I went to “select” then “inverse.” Then I went to “image adjustments” and clicked “desaturate” so that the selected area–but not the pb jar–was desaturated.
I can be confusing with directions, so if that doesn’t make sense, please tell me!!
Jo,
Have you ever tried adding cocoa powder (and maybe some sweetener) to regular pb? I think those are the only ingredients in my chocolate pb: cocoa powder, pb, salt, and sugar.
Heather,
I still have to try avocado mousse! I’m holding out hope that maybe I’ll actually like it!!
I like everything, except I’m pretty sure I don’t like fennel. But I’ve never really tried it. I just hate anise flavors. And you mentioned durian — because it smells like rotten ass, I’m pretty sure I hate that too.
I say no to anything from the sea! I’ve tried sea veggies a few times but they just aren’t for me. I also “heck noooo” to peas, lol.
my parents were exactly like that. I had to try everything and I’m a pretty good eater so I liked almost everything! except papaya and I still can’t get over that!
I love all kinds of foods! I’ve never found one that I haven’t liked. I used to not like tomatoes, but I like them now. I was never a big dairy eater-I don’t eat dairy anymore, but when I did; dairy was never my favorite.
I think I got my “trying new foods habit” from preschool. We had a try new foods week, and over the weekend we all had to go home and try one new food to tell to the class. Well, I took this assignment very seriously, and instead of trying just 1 food; I tried many! I drew a book full of all the new foods I tried. I remember lying on my Grandma’s kitchen floor drawing a slice of pumpernickel bread. And I still remember sitting in a circle showing the class my book, while everyone else just said they tried things like mac and cheese-come on, I’m sure that they had tried mac and cheese before!
Anyway, I find trying new foods an adventure!!
Danica,
Oh yeah, I forgot papaya! Hate that too. And guava… although maybe the one I had was rotten (it was on an airplane going to Hawaii. Can’t trust airplane food!).
i say no thank you to durian. stinky!
CCV,
It`s been a while since I`ve blogged ( I used to have a blog named a vegan with a reason, but about a year and a half ago I quit blogging) , But now I am living in Brazil and getting married to a Brazilian here in Brazil ( I am american) I am a vegan – was vegan three years ago, but quit last year because I didn`t have time to cook, but now I am back full force and won`t quit ever again- but have discovered that being vegan in Brazil is quite difficult due to the fact that there are very few recipes for vegans in portuguese. I have made a brazilian vegan blog ( one of the few, I have encountered only three good ones) and wanted to know if you would give me permission to post yoru recipes and pictures translated in portuguese. I would link everything back to you and give you full credit, I would just love to share the recipes with Brazilians.
If you want to check it out, my blog is http://www.veganlondrina.wordpress.com
if you want to email me about it, my email is:
rebeccalynn92@Hotmail.com
Thankyou very much!
( Oh, I definitely say No thank you to Brussel sprouts! Last time I had brussel sprouts I was 6 tyears old and swallowed one whole! I ended up barfing it up whole too!)
You are soooooooooooooooooooo pretty! And the peanut butter’s pretty too. Can pb be pretty?
I love the picture of the avocado! I’m virtually hugging avocados, haven’t had any in our house for a while
Veganlondrina (Rebecca),
. You are such a sweetheart (always were!).
Hey girl! I definitely remember you!
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! That’s so so exciting!! And I would be honored if you translated my recipes and posted them on your blog
Lots of love,
Katie
Thanks Katie! After I give lessons I`ll get to work on it:D
I get creeped out; like CREEPED out; by mayonnaise
I hug and hug and hug fats all day long but that one WILL not slip in
Tapenade. I don’t like olives, no matter how many times I try them. I always think I should like tapenade, and always try some when it’s served, and remember yup, still tastes like olives. Just can’t do it!
You need some coconut oil hugging eh? I have a jar I could possibly pose with….we’ll see
There’s plenty of stuff I don’t really like and thus try to avoid… for example most sorts of cabbage [except red cabbage], tomatoes – although I like them in sauce – and champignons. I also dislike green bell pepper, garlic and onions as well as stuff like lentils [and those are only the vegan things I don't like].
Oh that avocado’s too funny!
Oh, and of course avocados… don’t like them either.
Yay! I’m so glad to know I’m not the only avocado hater around. When we go out to Mexican and I push the guac to my boyfriend, he shakes his head at me. But there’s just something I don’t like about the greennness and the mushyness!
I was raised the same way- had to try everything once…”don’t knock it til ya try it” kind of mentality.
My “no thank you foods” are brussel sprouts, mayo, & celery.
I second the recommendation to try the avocado pudding – it is so amazing and rich and my hubby hates avocado but LOVES the pudding.
Also, I’m making guacamole later this week and you are so getting pictures
.
oh katie you are so pretty i tell you that all the time but its true i hope you know! and i love that peanut butter but only let myself have little spoonfuls as a special treat because i am afraid of it but maybe it should be my fat to hug this month. xoxoxo
I don’t think I’ll ever come to like peas or sour cream:(
I’ve never come around to liking olives, which is odd because I love olive oil. I can’t get over how it overwhelms other flavors especially on pizza.
Rachel,
Ohmigosh, me too! They’re just so…salty. Weird that I don’t like them, because I love salt (and olive oil, like you).
I have come to the conclusion I just can’t stand BANANAS. Also alot of fruits ..minus APPLES<3 watermelon, grapes, oranges (citrus).
I love avocadoes! I actually put about 1/4 of one in a mango-coconut-banana smoothie this morning and it turned out very, very creamy. I’ll try to get a picture of me hugging a ton at a grocery store sometime later this week (and hopefully not getting kicked out either
)
I can’t think of any food that I don’t really like off of the top of my head… hmm, oh! Watermelon, cantaloupe and honey dew melon! I’m not really a huge fan of them (the honey dew isn’t as bad as the other two for me).
I cannot stand tempeh..yuck
Besides that im not to picky! Love most foods 
I put a pic up on my blog and link to yours for the hug a fat month. I used my fav fat
Dana<3
http://happinessiswithin.wordpress.com/
OMG I absolutely detested avocados growing up! I had a thing with textures and smells but as I got older I grew to love ‘em! I love it spread on a piece of toast then heated up and sprinkled with some garlic powder & salt. But now I will still shout a big “NO THANK YOU!” to blue cheese (it’s MOLD for crying out loud!). Can’t seem to bring myself to eat that or any other pungent smelling cheese. Even Andrew Zimmern practically gagged when he was faced with durian so I don’t see how anyone could eat that.
Condiments. Ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish. I will not even kiss my boyfriend is one of these spreads has come near his mouth. I am not a squeamish person by nature – I’ve assisted in births, amputations and consider landfills goldmines for free stuff – but the smell of ketchup makes me gag.
I’m a bad American, I guess.
I hugged a fat today and it was pecans! Ilove my pecans and A food that I cannot stand with all my might is the dreaded eggplant. The horror it brings to my stomach and the smell oh the powerful deadly odors that attacks my house. I have shunned this poisionous vegtable from my house because technicaly it is poisionous if it is eaten raw. so ha another reason i hate thee eggplant:0P
I don’t think I’d be able to live without avocados or chickpeas
And I will ALWAYS give a BIG “no thank you” to brussel sprouts and coconut (unless it’s in milk-form in Asian foods).
I grew up with the same rule though – we always had to try everything once, then we could say we didn’t like it. My mom even ate peas (she HATES peas) every few months to hit the point home that we need to re-try foods we don’t like, just to make sure we don’t suddenly like them. I think it’s a good rule, and definitely one my kids are gonna have to go by – I don’t want little food-snobs running around!!
Oh, I dislike quite a few foods which I try to like:
eggs, wholefat cottage cheese, low fat cottage cheese, hot dog sausages, beef soup, anything meat, lard, mushrooms, artificial juice, plain soy milk, dark chocolate, white chocolate, plain coffee, .. if store-bought flavourless strawberries count, I could add a whole lot of foods, from vegetables, fruits to bread.
Ha! I’m glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t like avocado. Like you, I keep trying to like it (same with sweet potato) but it just doesn’t taste good to me.
Ahhh I didn’t hug my avocados today but I ate plenty of it!!
{ 1 trackback }