Tuesday, June 3, 2008

I hate oatmeal

Anyone that knows me remotely well, knows that I am a texture freak. I can't eat anything with strange textures. Specifically the slightly gooey/chunky texture. You know what I mean where it kind of feels like it's already been slightly chewed. For example tapioca pudding, or cottage cheese. Or for anyone that has ever tried Polenta, you know what I'm talking about. Well about a month ago I decided that even though I have spent my whole life avoiding oatmeal, I was going to start eating it. I figured that the benefits of oatmeal outweighed, the whole nasty texture thing. So I bought my first box of instant oatmeal, quaker oatmeal, cinnammon roll flavored. Sounds tasty, right? Well it's not the taste that makes me hate it, I don't know what to do with it when it is in my mouth... I made my first bowl and I didn't know if i should chew or just swallow, or what. I tried chewing, it made me gag, and so I just kind of let it sit in my mouth. Then I started just swallowing it, but that didn't seem right either, so I gave up after about half the bowl. The next day I consulted a few oatmeal eaters on the proper way to eat the stuff, I got a few suggestions like to not cook it as long as the package says, and to add raisins or something chewy so you have to chew. Melissa even ate a bowl to evaluate her method and came up with a squish/chew conclusion. Gross. So this last Saturday I tried yet again to eat oatmeal, I tried adding things, I tried squishing, I tried everything I had been told, but still the gag reflex was stronger. I can't do it. I reported to my parents the sad fact that I would never be an oatmeal eater, and my mom started cracking up. She couldn't believe I was so upset about not liking it. I explained to her all of the benefits of oatmeal. It helps with cholesterol, it is low in fat, filling, may reduce the risk of heart disease, etc. And she told me that it was a lost cause, even as a baby when they would try to add oatmeal to my bottles, it would make me gag. So there you go, I guess it's just in my genes, I'm not destined to be an oatmeal eater.

2 comments:

stewart.shana.ella said...

I second that motion. I used to make my mom buy oatmeal because I told her that I liked it but when she would leave the kitchen I would put it down the garbage disposal. Why did I make her buy it? Weird. I do have this urge as well, I always tell myself I should like oatmeal but it makes me gag too. Like you said it doesn't taste bad, it's the nasty slimy texture. I bought some for Ella and she gags on it too. I was hoping she would like it because it is so good for you.... no go. She even hated baby cereal. So I guess it is in the genes:)

melissa said...

You truly are doomed to a life of no oatmeal. Sad, really, bc I have grown to love it! Maybe one day you'll get lucky and I'll make you oatmeal and then we'll see if we can beat the genes! I obviously missed that part of the pool...