I hate pasta — always have, always will
Ever since I started to eat solid foods, I have been a pain when it comes to eating.
Whether it was going out for a meal or having dinner at a friend’s house, my parents had an extensive list prepared of all the foods I refused to eat. The label that haunted me for my entire childhood was “fussy eater”. With age I’ve gradually started to eat a larger variety of food, such as rice, fish and vegetables, but pasta was one I just could not get over. It continues to repulse me. The texture makes me feel like I’m eating a slimy, squishy slug. “But not all pasta is the same,” I hear you argue “what about spaghetti or tortellini?” All of which I hate. To me pasta is pasta and no amount of sauce or meaty filling can change that.
I still vividly remember when I went to a friend’s birthday party in primary school and we were presented with this huge lasagne. As I didn’t eat pasta, I had no idea what this dish was. To me it looked like lovely, thick melted cheese glazed over some tasty mincemeat. I put a massive slab on my plate and took a giant forkful, before shoving it into my mouth.
It took a few seconds for my mind to process what I had just eaten. What had initially seemed an appetising dish now seemed to burn my tongue, whilst the sliminess coated my throat. I shot out of the room and ran to toilet before throwing it all back up. I have been scarred for life. I was deceived into thinking that this gooey, golden sauce was something delicious, when in reality it was pasta.
Believe me, I wish I did like pasta because it would make my life a lot easier. I would have a lot more options in Prezzo for starters. My menu choices are reduced by about fifty percent, leaving me with the small selection of pizzas or a risotto if I’m lucky. I would also be able to go to a family event without worrying about whether the host will serve a bowl of penne. The amount of times that I’ve turned up and had to sheepishly announce that I don’t eat pasta is ridiculous.
More importantly it’s embarrassing.
I can always feel my cheeks turn as red as the tomato sauce that’s being served. I would sit in an awkward silence full of guilt whilst my aunty ran around the kitchen in a panic trying to throw something together for me last minute. Even now, I have to constantly remind people that I don’t eat pasta because it is such a common food to cook. I hate being an inconvenience almost as much as I hate pasta… almost.
It isn’t all doom and gloom though. One positive is that I have managed to avoid putting on a lot of weight at university. All too often, students move into halls with very little cooking experience and resort to the easiest option, pasta. They then fall into the trap of eating it every single day and varying only between either tomato sauce or pesto. The result being a very boring diet and a few extra kilos appearing on the scales. Not eating pasta forced me to look for alternatives such as couscous, which is equally as easy to make in a short amount of time. I also branched out and have learnt how to cook some far more exciting dishes such as chilli-con-carne, shepherds pie and, my personal favourite, paella.
All in all, hating pasta hasn’t been too much of an issue and has probably done me a lot of good. I am still met with faces of horror when I reveal my hatred for the food. Everybody is so shocked and can’t understand how it is possible to not eat pasta. Many people have attempted to change my mind but I won’t be swayed.
I did try pasta once a couple of years ago when my Italian friends insisted that I taste their carbonara, after all, who makes pasta better than the Italians? Alas, it was still disgusting. After nibbling on a couple of pieces of pasta, I ended up picking out all the bits of pancetta and leaving the rest. I tried, honestly I did, but the texture was all it took to make me gag. Just the thought of having to eat a bowl of pasta is enough to make my stomach churn.
I have gone past the point of no return.
