Food meme from princeofwands who got it from karenbynight and was started by rosefox

This seemed like a useful meme. I have always considered myself to be a picky eater. I have a few friends that are worse than me. But I do have my food requirements and I can be a pain about it. I have never been able to put them all down in one place before. This is the first attempt.

The Care and Feeding of The Gina

Food I need to stay away from (Allergies)
* Need to avoid sugar, caffeine and alcohol. They have a very large affect on me.
* Hot spices
* Milk (mildly)
* Cilantro

Foods I will stay away from
* Spicy foods, including black pepper. I don’t believe food should hurt and these things hurt. If the word “spicy” is involved (i.e. not too spicy, not very spicy at all) typically, it is too spicy. I have even had a problem breathing in a restaurant when they brought out a steaming skillet of something really spicy. The spice ended up in the air and I started hacking. I sat outside until my tablemates were done and left.
* Seafood/fish, with the exception of shrimp and tuna.
* Tofu
* Altoids or anything similar in taste. I had a bad experience once and now I can’t stand the new trend in “extreme mint.”

Foods I want to stay away from (Don’t Prefer, But Will Eat Occasionally or Pick Out of Mixed Dishes)
* Zucchini, Bell peppers Olives, Eggplant
* Cinnamon (I replace this with Allspice and with Nutmeg, just tired of the cinnamon)
* Gourmet foods. My tastes are pretty non-refined.
* Popular ethnic foods (Thai, Indian). With my food issues, I need to know the contents of my food. I am very nervous when it isn’t identifiable.
* Japanese and Mexican food. Other than some Chicken Teriyaki, generally, I just don’t like Japanese food. Mexican food was always too spicy so I learned to not like the smell. I can to fajitas and some tacos but am pretty sad when it comes to real Mexican food.
* Milk. I was very allergic to milk as a baby so I never learned to like the taste and texture. I do fine with dairy products but milk itself is frowned upon.

Food I like
* I like chain restaurants. I like knowing what I am getting into.
* I like McDonalds.
* I like Mid-west American foods. (i.e. meatloaf, green bean casserole, mac and cheese with hot dogs)
* I would not survive on Atkins. I need my carbs too much and I love my white rice, potatoes and white bread.
* Popcorn doesn’t like me. I love it. I will pretty much eat as much of it as I have in front of me and then pay the price later.
* I like foods I can chew with my tongue (i.e. spaghetti, canned palm hearts, peas, baked potatoes, etc)
* I like A vegetables (Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocado-I know it is really a fruit but it’s green and not that sweet, ergo Veggie)
* Ethnic foods I can eat: Korean (Barbeque Chicken), Filipino (Shanghai rolls, Barbeque Chicken), Chinese (love green bean chicken with lo mein), Italian (I like the Americanized versions best), Russian (Chicken Kiev anyone?)
* I like cheese, not the stinky ones so much, the more mild, nutty, buttery ones.
* I must be from Minnesota, I like the Hot Dish.
* When baking, if I can, I will add Vanilla. I have a large bottle of imitation Vanilla for this very purpose.

General Principles About My Food Prefs
* I am an omnivore. Hanging around Vegetarians, I realized I can eat a fully vegetarian diet throughout the day (sure surprised me when I looked back and realized my food intake would qualify). I also really like my meat. Mostly the basics: Beef, pork, chicken, turkey.
* I have this Blood Sugar thing. I need to keep a relatively steady blood sugar. Sometimes that means eating upwards of 7-8 times in a day. I have gotten it to between 3-4 times and more when I am active (like at a con).
* In general, I don’t like to eat. It is a chore. One that I have gotten very bored with. I usually distract myself from eating by reading, watching TV, talking with friends.
* I get hungry when food smells good. This is usually near the end of a meal when I am getting close to full.
* I like all my food at once. A bite of this, a bite of that. A little salad to clean the palate between bites of meat and peas. Desert is best when enjoyed with everything else. Mixing tastes in my mouth is yummy.