Are you a lifelong picky eater attempting to expand your palate? If so, you’re not alone—and fortunately, it’s never too late to start exploring new foods. Whether you’re fifteen or fifty, you can begin your journey toward developing your palate.
But how does one become more experimental with flavors and meals? Read on for five tips on introducing new and exciting food into your menu.
Look for opportunities to try new flavors
Perhaps the best way to develop your palate is by looking for new opportunities to try out new flavors. Fortunately, there are plenty of routes you can take to find new dishes. Whether you try a new local restaurant each week, add fresh ingredients to your at-home meals, or sign up for a monthly coffee subscription, you’ll be expanding your palate in no time.
Experiment at home
A safe, low-pressure way to expand your palate is to experiment at home. Being creative in your own space makes it easy to add new ingredients as little or as much as you want. Plus, you won’t have to worry about paying premium costs for a complete meal you didn’t like.
An excellent method for introducing new tastes at home is by ordering a meal kit. You can request a box with classic recipes or a few with daring fresh ingredients that you can measure out.
Take baby steps
The most important thing to remember about expanding your palate is to take baby steps. You don’t want to introduce new foods too quickly—otherwise, you risk becoming overwhelmed.
For example, if you want to develop a taste for seafood, start with a mild dish, like fried flounder. Then, gradually work your way up to stronger-tasting fish or sushi.
Expand on your preferences
Despite being a picky eater, you probably have a list of foods you enjoy. Sit down and look at your list of preferred foods, then find recipes you can use to expand on them. By adding onto what you already like, you can try new flavors without too much potency, allowing you to ease into unfamiliar tastes.
A simple way to add a unique ingredient to something classic is by using pasta. It’s a versatile food that can help make almost anything palatable.
Try things more than once
Many parents use the “just one bite” rule with their children. However, as an adult, you know that tastes change over time. Therefore, trying a food once might not be the best way to determine if you like it. So, to determine whether you enjoy certain foods, try them a second time or in a different dish. In many cases, the recipe can make or break your introduction to new food.
Final thoughts
Choosing to develop your palate as an adult is a big step. Your preferences have developed over decades, so taking steps to change them can be tricky. However, using the tips listed here, you won’t have a problem finding new foods to enjoy. You might surprise yourself with a long list of new favorites that you’d never have given a second thought to before.
