Acquired Tastes
Think back to foods you used to hate as a kid, scrunching your nose up in disgust. Funny how they are also the things we often crave as adults. With that in mind, here are 20 foods you probably love now but despised back then.
1. Coffee
Coffee's bitter taste is off-putting to most kids, who can't understand why adults drink it. As you develop grown-up taste buds, and perhaps a need for caffeine, you start to enjoy its richness and aroma. Drinking black coffee becomes not just bearable, but enjoyable.
2. Olives
Children often loathe olives because of their briny, slightly bitter flavor. As adults, we learn to appreciate them on pizzas, in tapenades, or marinated in oils and herbs. They transform from something to avoid into a gourmet indulgence.
3. Spicy Foods
Children typically shy away from heat; it's overpowering for undeveloped taste buds. Adults frequently develop a love for hot sauces, chili peppers, and spicy cuisine. The pleasure and flavor complexity outweigh the original discomfort.
4. Tomatoes
Some children are repelled by tomatoes, they seem too mushy or too acidic. Adults know fresh tomatoes add livening flavor to salads, sandwiches, and pastas. Their sweet juiciness becomes something to anticipate.
5. Dark Chocolate
When young, the bitterness of dark chocolate is off-putting compared to a sweet, milky candy bar. As you age, you learn how its richness and complexity make it more satisfying. It becomes a refined indulgence rather than a letdown.
6. Brussels Sprouts
As children, we all knew Brussels sprouts as gummy, overcooked lumps of bitterness. As adults, we are introduced to roasted Brussels sprouts, crispy, caramelized, and almost unrecognizable. Now a gourmet side, they shed their childhood reputation as torture.
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7. Pickles
Kids won’t touch them because the vinegary bite is too intense for their little palates. As we grow up, we fall in love with those crunchy, tangy bites that perk up sandwiches or burgers. They become an essential side rather than something to avoid.
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8. Onions
Raw onions are strong and overpowering to young palates. Adults eventually understand how sweetness and complexity are unlocked by caramelizing or finely dicing them. Once shunned, onions become the foundation of almost every good recipe.
9. Broccoli
Broccoli always seemed like a “eat your vegetables” cop-out from parents. Now, when steamed lightly, roasted, or stir-fried, it becomes fresh and satisfying. Adults appreciate its versatility and how well it pairs with sauce, cheese, or garlic.
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10. Beans
Beans taste bland and weird-textured to kids. Adults learn they're filling and comforting in soups, chili, tacos, or salads. Healthy comfort food replaces something once to be shunned.
11. Cottage Cheese
Texture alone, soft curds in a creamy liquid, makes many kids gag at the thought of cottage cheese. But mild, refreshing, and high in protein, it becomes surprisingly pleasant for adults on toast, with fruit, or in recipes.
12. Spinach
The slimy texture of cooked spinach put off many kids. Fresh spinach in salads, smoothies, or sautéed in olive oil is mild, nutrient-dense, and tasty. It goes from feared side dish to grown-up diet staple.
13. Avocados
Kids usually hate avocados for their mushy texture and mild flavor. Slowly, as adults, we come to love them, their richness, and how well they go with toast, tacos, and salads. Avocado haters can become converts with guacamole alone.
14. Fish
Fish tastes “too fishy” to many young taste buds, particularly if it was not super fresh or well-cooked. As adults, flaky salmon, crispy cod, or tender sea bass reveal fish’s elegance and deliciousness. It changes from a Friday horror to a weekly staple.
15. Mushrooms
As a child, mushrooms seemed suspicious and too rubbery to enjoy. But as you grow, you learn to love their earthy taste and what they do for pastas, steaks, and sauces. Mushrooms become a rich and savory treat, not something to pick apart.
16. Asparagus
As a kid, asparagus was a limp, overcooked spear that smelled like a locker room. As a grown-up, grilled, roasted, or buttered with lemon, it is crisp, fresh, and sophisticated. It becomes a favorite vegetable for special dinners and weeknight meals alike.
17. Beets
Beets can taste earthy, even dirt-earthy, to little eaters. Adults learn to appreciate their inherent sweetness, particularly roasted or paired with goat cheese. They go from “dirt-flavored” to a bright, flavorful superfood.
18. Sushi
Raw fish and seaweed can be scary or gross to kids. As adults, many come to love sushi’s freshness, balance, and craftsmanship. It goes from “absolutely not” to a favorite treat or even weekly craving.
19. Cauliflower
Cauliflower once seemed drab, bland, and pointless next to broccoli or carrots. Roasted or mashed, it has nutty, hearty flavors you never liked as a kid. It becomes an ingredient that can replace rice, potatoes, or even wings.
20. Eggplant
Children often loathed eggplant due to its sometimes slimy texture and slightly bitter flavor. As adults, we are introduced to baba ganoush, eggplant Parmesan, or roasted eggplant, learning how dense and creamy this vegetable can be. Suddenly, it becomes a gourmet indulgence rather than a vegetable to pick around.
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