A friend of mine sent me an e-mail after my last Food List asking what in the world it was that I ate before I started this trip. I guess it’s time to get everyone up to speed on what exactly “Rhys is a picky eater” meant.
Mom tells me that there was a long period in my early days where I would eat nothing but chicken nuggets. I don’t remember this. But it would make logical sense…in grade school, I brought my lunch every day. (I only bought a school lunch once, and it was a corn dog and tater tots. 4th grade.) Without fail, it was: A peanut butter sandwich (still enjoyed thoroughly today), chips (Fritos, Doritos, Lays, Cheetos, you name it) and some kind of dessert. I preferred Fudge Rounds and Hostess Ding-Dongs, back when they were wrapped in foil. I didn’t eat ANY vegetables at home (‘cept potatoes, fried.) No fruit either, aside from the occasional apple. I ate meat, bread, cereal. Not even mac and cheese. In fact, after a bad slice of Kraft I abandoned cheese altogether for years. No noodles at all either.
When I moved to middle school, I had opened myself up to hamburgers. Nope, didn’t eat them until then. Or pizza. But I gave them both a try in 6th grade and I had a burger. Every Day. Until 11th grade. I didn’t eat any pasta or mexican food. Still no cheese on my burgers, or anything else for that matter. Plain and dry always.
11th and 12th grade was open campus lunch, so I was free to get whatever fast food I wanted. I opened myself up to baked potatoes. My diet continued to be dominated by meat and potatoes, still no vegetables or fruit. Once I moved out on my own, things changed….HA! Of course they didn’t! I stuck with what I liked.
When I met Indi, she was APPALLED. Seriously. Over our relationship, she has worked harder than you will EVER know to get me to try even the most basic of foods. I now eat salad (prefer a Caesar, perhaps with some grilled chicken) spaghetti (homemade sauce only, though) mac ‘n cheese (I like bacon bits in it) and countless other foods that I wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. Not only that, but she has inspired me to try many foods (as you well know) on this trip.
For that, I thank her. I’m eating healthier and have found many foods I tolerate, and some I actually LIKE! I’m a texture eater, so some foods bother me on that alone, but I am making progress. And now you know…the rest of the story.
Rhys' Pieces 
he is not joking. I knew Indi was the one the first time I found out she'd talked him into trying green beans, ha. (I had tried for years without much luck)
I remember being really confused when you said you had never eaten an orange, I was thinking how do you eat like that and not get scurvy like a pirate lol.
Others might find you diet odd, but Man I have walked in those shoes. Hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken legs (only the leg!). French Fries and corn IF if was on the cob. Fries I would eat, but mashed potatoes, etc. no way. Pickles but no other condiment. Why would I want to "kill" the taste. Bacon and sausage were fine as were pancakes and cereal. First bite of Pizza (GODFATHERS!!!) at 25.. That changed my diet forever…