Having a rough relationship with fruits and vegetables is already tough when eating. But when I go out to eat, it makes it even harder.
I have to be that person.
You know THAT person.
The person who has to have everything special.
The person when you overhear their order, you roll your eyes and whisper to your table mates.
I hate it, but I’ve gotten used to it, so it doesn’t bother me as much as it used to. In the past, I would basically just eat chicken fingers and fries.
They were safe, there usually isn’t lettuce, tomato, or onion anywhere on the plate like a hamburger. I still LOVE chicken fingers and fries, I do, but I’ve gotten to the point where, I should probably eat other things.
Growing up, my family loved green peppers on pizza, so they would order half with and half without. Which was super great and very thoughtful so I didn’t have to pick them off of my pieces. The only problem? Green peppers are SO POTENT, that the whole pizza is flavored green pepper more than anything else.
Eventually, as I got older, and louder, I was able to have them order a 2nd pizza with pepperoni and black olives. My favorite toppings, and lucky my uncle also liked it, so it was easily finished.
When I would attend work functions that they’ve ordered food, it was almost always sandwiches loaded with lettuce, tomato, and onion. I would skip lunch those days. That sandwich, for me, can’t be salvaged.
When I would order catering for work, I would specifically request all veggies, mayo, oil, vinegar, seasonings, on the side. So everyone could make the sandwich as they like it, not how one person who ordered it thought everyone like to eat sandwiches.
I know, I should be thankful there’s free food. Sure, that’s always nice, but it was never a big excitement for me. I knew, there would be something I couldn’t eat. I’d just eat the bag of chips. Or a cookie.
When I go to restaurants now, I order what I actually want, and I order it special. And yes, I’m super annoying, but I try really hard to be extra nice. We also ALWAYS tip WELL.
My burger order is something along the lines of, “yes, I’d like the Bacon Burger, no lettuce, onion, tomato, no mayo, can I get the mayo on the side, basically, meat, cheese, bun.” And then I don’t usually even eat the bun anymore these days.. but I do like that to soak up the burger juices.
I love Texas Roadhouse. There’s very little special I have to ask for, the loaded baked potato comes with no veggies! And I can pick my sides.
Fast food is always a question. Will they or won’t they get it right. I typically just go “plain” and sometimes I get it correct.. and quite a few times, it’s wrong. If it’s wrong, and there’s lettuce on a sandwich, even taking off the lettuce, it’s very difficult for me to eat it. Typically, I will either give it to someone, or throw it away. Another reason I usually eat chicken fingers or nuggets, and fries…
Sometimes, when I do send something back, the restaurant just takes it back and takes off the offending vegetable. Sadly, I can taste it. I won’t send it back a second time, so I suffer through, or pick and don’t eat too much.
Most sit down restaurants are good, I have less issues when I go out to eat that way. And they are super nice about fixing when they got it wrong.
If it’s my mistake, I suffer through. If I forgot to say “no lettuce” or whatever, I won’t send it back, it was my bad.
It can be a hassle and it’s definitely frustrating for me to be so annoying. But I’ve found ways to figure it out and adapt to my issues. As we all do when faced with a challenge.
What are some of your special requests when you go out to eat?
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