From Dino Nuggets to Meal Prep: How My Relationship with Food Changed Over Time
Okay so let’s just say, growing up I was that picky eater. You know the kid who only ate like five things total? Chicken nuggets (specifically dino-shaped ones), mac and cheese, toast, apples (but only the green kind), and cereal with zero milk. That was me, every single day. My mom tried all the tricks in the book hiding broccoli under cheese, blending spinach into smoothies, making those Pinterest-y smiley face plates but I was stubborn. Like seriously, I would’ve rather skipped dinner than eat something with “weird textures.”
Looking back, I feel kind of bad for her. I mean, feeding a kid who’s basically on a beige food diet for years sounds like actual torture. But now that I’m in university, living on my own (shoutout to my student housing where the fire alarm goes off way too often), I finally get what she was trying to do. Food is a lot more than fuel. It’s memory, it’s love, it’s health, and yeah—sometimes it’s just survival.
Now I’m no nutritionist, obviously. I still eat like a raccoon sometimes, especially during finals week when it’s basically caffeine and whatever I can microwave in three minutes. But I do care more now. Maybe it’s because I finally get tired of feeling gross after eating junk all day, or maybe I just appreciate the effort it takes to actually plan meals. Grocery shopping is a whole mission, let alone cooking. And don’t even get me started on trying to eat healthy on a budget. It’s honestly a bit of a joke. Like I can get a frozen pizza for three bucks, but a tiny container of blueberries is $6?? Make it make sense.
The wildest part though is how much your taste buds change. I used to gag at the thought of mushrooms—like literal dry heaving—and now I put them in my pasta on purpose. I even kinda like broccoli?? Still not a fan of raw tomatoes though, those are evil and I stand by that.
I think what really shifted for me was learning to cook for myself. Not like gourmet chef cooking (I am not that ambitious), but simple stuff—stir fry, roasted veggies, baked salmon when I’m feeling fancy. Just being able to throw things together that taste good and don’t come from a box makes me feel like a functioning human being, which is rare in university life.
I remember one time I made chicken curry from scratch and my roommate walked in like I had just won Top Chef. She was like, “Who are you and what did you do with the ramen-obsessed version of yourself?” And honestly, I felt kinda proud. Adulting win.
There’s also something super comforting about recreating the meals you had as a kid. Like my mom used to make this super basic spaghetti with garlic, olive oil, and tons of parmesan, and it somehow still hits just right. I made it during midterms and it was like eating a hug. I know that sounds dramatic but whatever, food is emotional okay?
Also, fun fact: I did an actual project in one of my psych classes about how early food experiences affect your eating habits later. Turns out, letting kids explore different foods without pressure helps them eat better as adults. So all those times I flat-out refused to eat anything green... probably didn’t help me in the long run. Sorry, mom.
Anyway, I guess the whole point of this ramble is that food is weirdly personal, and your relationship with it keeps evolving. What you eat reflects your life stage. Like, right now I’m balancing part-time work, classes, and pretending I’m not behind on everything. I literally used Homework Help Canada during finals just to stay afloat because I had papers piling up like dishes in the sink. If you know, you know.
So yeah, life’s chaotic. But sitting down with a real meal even if it’s just pasta and a side of whatever veggie I didn’t forget to buy makes me feel grounded. And it reminds me of home, where even when I was a dino nugget-loving food snob, someone was always trying to feed me something good.
If you’re a parent reading this, especially one dealing with a toddler who will only eat goldfish crackers and yogurt, just know it might change. It might take 15 years, but there’s hope. And if you are a student like me, trying to figure out how to eat more than instant noodles and meal prep without losing your mind solidarity. You are doing better than you think.
Food is weird. Life is weird. But both are better when you give them a little love.