Recently, I shared an older post with someone on Twitter. She was asking for information about vegan diets, and I shared a post from last year listing things I’d learnt in the 3 years I’d been eating one. I hadn’t looked at that post in a very long time and decided to give it a quick read (anyone else read their own blog?). One point was that my taste buds had changed a lot. Obviously, I’m aware that I like new things now. But it got me thinking about the foods I used to hate and actually eat/ enjoy now and how much things have changed.
Of course, your taste buds change in general, whether that’s about how you cook something or just getting older or trying new things. Once upon a time, I hated olives. What a tragedy. I may have developed a liking for some of the following things had I not changed my diet, but this list is purely things that I truly hated before and eat now. We all know I hate banana; I’ve always hated banana; I will always hate banana. Foods I still hate won’t be making the list.
Foods I Used To Hate Before Going Vegan
Dark Chocolate
I’m sure this will come as a shock to some people, but I used to only eat white chocolate. Milky Bar buttons were a dietary staple for me. I don’t think I ate any chocolate at all for a good few months because I hated all dark chocolate and most free from chocolate tastes like plastic. Good vegan white chocolate was almost impossible to find – Vivani White Nougat Crisp & Vego White Almond Bliss are where it’s at if any fellow dairy free white chocolate lovers are still suffering. I started using dark chocolate to make things like brownies and somehow ended up liking it from there.
Mushrooms
Okay, I still don’t exactly like mushrooms, but I used to hate them so much that I’d refuse to eat them under any circumstances. However, chestnut mushrooms are a plant source of vitamin D and I wanted to try and incorporate some food sources of it rather than relying on supplementation. So, I got in the kitchen. And it turns out I actually like them in things like burgers, meatballs, blended things…
I’m still not a fan of the texture. If I put them in a stir fry or something similar, I treat myself like a three year old and chop them up really small so I can’t find them, but it works.
One of my favourite mushroom containing recipes: Lentil Ragu
Courgettes
Soggy cucumbers, right? That’s what I always thought. I’m not sure what happened to make me start liking them. They crop up in a lot of vegan recipes so I starting experimenting when I was trying new things. Turns out they aren’t that bad after all.
Nut Butter
Yeah, I don’t understand either. So gross, the texture? Ew. I could quite happily sit with a jar and a spoon now.
Possibly one of my favourite recipes ever…Frozen Granola Clusters
Milk
I’ve always hated milk. I’ve drank coffee since I was in my early teens, I used to eat my cereal dry because I hated milk so much. The thought of drinking a glass of the stuff would make me gag. despite hating milk from a cow, I’d never tried a non-dairy alternative. Now, my coffee will always be black. And I do prefer granola with yoghurt, but I will still add a splash of almond (or my beloved vanilla soy) if I’m out. Also, there’s zero chance you could have convinced me to touch flavoured milks before.
They were the first things that came to mind when I decided to do this post. I’m sure I would have come to my senses regarding the nut butter eventually, vegan diet or not. Did any of these things shock you? Has your palate changed a lot as you’ve gotten older or changed your diet?
Until next time,
Sophie
I didn’t like dark chocolate either and now I enjoy it. I’ve always loved mushrooms although, I seem to not be able to eat them as much as I used to, it gives me a tummy ache. I can eat courgettes now too. Funny how that happens!! x
I used to hate nut butter too! Now I swear I can’t go a day without dipping into my peanut butter at least twice haha, I’m obsessed! One food I hated until only a few months ago is strawberries! I tried them again for the first time in May and I don’t know what I was thinking! x
Evie x | http://www.eviejayne.co.uk
I find my tastes changing as I get older as well. I think I’m becoming less picky overall!
http://www.sundaydahlias.com
I have found I like a lot of food I use to hate since having to stick to a gluten free diet due to medical reasons. Its interesting how your tastes change when you take something else out of your diet.
Seeing Dark Chocolate, Mushrooms, Courgettes and Nut Butter on this list gives me hope as I attempt to move steadily towards a more vegetarian/vegan diet. I hate dark chocolate and mushrooms especially but now I’m hoping my taste buds will follow suit but I know one thing I need to change is milk which I love but I need to try using more non-diary alternatives. Great post!
My palate changed hugely over the last 2 years since I switched to wholefoods and (initially) cut sugar from my diet.
I always knew mushrooms were a texture issue for me but I’ve figured out that if I cook them under pressure (like using my george foreman grill) that a lot of the water squeezes out and they become a lot more palatable.
Courgettes were another one for me too, again I’ve found that they are okay roasted or grilled.(or caked)
I’ve never managed to get into olives though!
This is so interesting as I agree with every one other than milk which I’ve always liked. I know you say you don’t particularly like mushrooms still but I used to hate mushrooms but now they’re one of my favourites. Maybe you will end up loving them as much as me! Such a cool post idea xx
Oh god mushrooms. Those aren’t even allowed in our house. I think they are just bleck! Props to getting yourself to eat them though. I can’t get over the whole “fungus” concept. My mind just automatically rebelled.
Dark chocolate is one of my favorites! I know some people don’t like the bitterness, but I actually love it! It’s crazy how people’s tastebuds change over time!
Casey
For a chocolate lover, it’s funny how I used to hate dark chocolate. But now, after understanding how good and actually healthy it is, I suddenly don’t hate it as much. Aha. For courgettes, I just love when they’re grilled! Love reading this post x Ain
I’m close to making the change to vegan, I’m vegetarian for the most part and dairy free and your recipes come in so useful for me! I hate courgettes too I find the texture so weird x
Kayleigh Zara http://www.kayleighzaraa.com
This is so funny because if lot of these I actually also really don’t like! I used to always eat cereal dry and I thought I was the only one because I cannot stand milk even to this day! It has to have added chocolate for me to actually drink it. Mushrooms aren’t my favourite but I could definitely eat it if I had to! X
I’m the same with mushrooms! I still can’t eat big chunks of mushrooms but I’ve found I really like the taste of them when they’re finely diced!
This is so interesting for me to read for some reason Loved this post! That’s really funny about milk
Briana
https://justmythoughtsblogs.wordpress.com
I always find it so interesting to see what people used to hate but now like. I used to hate mushrooms but actually quite like them now, I also hated courgettes as well but now I like them! Haha. Another one for me was peas, didn’t eat them for like over 10 years because I disliked them growing up, and then I was at uni and my boyfriend was like just try them, you might like them now, and I do!
Chloe xx
http://www.chloechats.com
Yes, I can definitely admit to reading my own blog too :’) I used to hate stuffing!! That’s more of a dish than a specific food, but I didn’t like it at Thanksgiving, and now I CAN NOT GET ENOUGH. Also on the Thanksgiving trend, I used to adore yams, but now the thought of them makes me gag haha. I can stomach sweet potato fries, and sweet potato in other forms (I think lol), but sweet potato as yams?! Yuck. Dark chocolate is the one!!! I’m all for 80% and up; I can’t stand milk chocolate anymore x
I love this post, I don’t think I have changed my mind on anything except ramen noodles. I now like ramen noodles when before all I could think about was worms haha. Great post, mushrooms are my favourite but I still can’t handle dark chocolate. Thank you for sharing xx
ALittleKiran | Bloglovin
It’s so interesting how your taste buds can change over time. When I was a kid I used to love milk chocolate and white chocolate. Now I’m an adult I only like dark chocolate!
I also always thought I hated pineapple (with a passion) but it turns out I just don’t like tinned pineapple or artificial pineapple flavours. I had fresh pineapple on holiday a few years ago and LOVED it.
You made me so hungry.
check this post:
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I used to despise milk since we have it raw. 🙂 Have learned to love it since, over cereal, granola, or in hot drinks. I have always loved creamy mushrooms and, as for dark chocolate, I am more of a milk chocolate and white chocolate fan.
I agree with you in the dark chocolate! Don’t think I’ll ever like mushrooms though.. It’s the texture I can’t stand xx
I am the exact same with dark chocolate! It’s definitely an acquired taste but now I love it!
Beauty & Colour | Vegan Fashion + Lifestyle Blog
Very good post! I didn’t like dark chocolate, mushrooms or any sort of salad but now omg I love them all! I could eat a salad every day now! I definatly think my palate has changed as I have gotten, older I enjoy more foods now which is a big help as I used to be rather choosy!
Mel
http://www.moonlightmel.co.uk
I was quite fussy when I was younger too. It’s funny how those things change as we get older x
I never used to like dark chocolate but I do now, I absolutely love mushrooms! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Dark chocolate has totally grown on me too! I used to only eat milk, and dark made me gag. Now I can’t even eat milk chocolate because it is too sweet!
such an interesting post! i use to absolutely hate bananas, still not crazy about them but i’ll find myself craving them every now and again which throws me for a total loop lol. i’m a pretty picky eater so nothing changes much for me xx
mich / simplymich.com
I must be strange, you’ve just listed 5 foods I’ve always loved! Milk is now the one main thing I don’t like, or any other creamy type foods (mayo, coleslaw, cream). But one food I used to hate and now love is tomatoes! Texture is still a big no, but love the flavour
I love cooking and all these foods are so tasty. I love using courgettes for different recipes. It’s so versatile and can be made into bread, pasta, cream and even add it to soup or salads. I 100% recommend you use them to make a loaf cake. It’s so yummy!
Have a lovely weekend.
Mushrooms are my all time favorite
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I’ve always loved dark chocolate and shrooms! They taste so gooooddd! And you can do so much to amplify the flavor. Great post Sophie!
It is interesting when your tastes change over time. I am still waiting for the moment when I can switch to dark chocolate, hehe. Oooh I can totally relate to nut butter! I somehow found myself eating a lot of peanut butter lately. You can never go wrong with mushrooms. Have you tried bitter melon before?
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
It’s so interesting right! There is food I love now like hummus and mushrooms and food I dislike now like ripple milk, cashew milk, and wilted spinach.
I really did wish that I loved mushrooms. I swear they’re in so many yummy sounding dishes, but I just can’t get with the weird texture and flavour of them. I feel like they’re for a mature palette and unfortunately thats not me hahah
My tastebuds are definitely changing the older I get. I used to hate ginger but now love the little zing it adds. I have always been a fan of dark chocolate and mushrooms though.
Ginger is another one for me! I still don’t love it but I like a little here and there now and I used to absolutely hate it. It’s funny how they change like that!