I grew up with parents who did not really cook much, and when they did cook, it was not always very good. My dad insisted on frozen meals and produce, and my mom only really made a few dishes. They didn't really have me try new foods, and when they did, it was always low quality and poorly cooked. I thought I didn't like porkchops for the longest time because my dad had me try these precooked, tough, and unseasoned ones.

When I started shopping and cooking for myself, it kind of blew me away just how much variety there was in food? Like, I'm eating beans regularly for the first time in my life now. Neither of my parents ever had me try plain beans, besides bush's baked beans which are way too sweet for me. But it turns out I love pinto and black beans, especially in Tex Mex. I used to think raw tomatoes were gross, but it turns out I just prefer them fresher. I'm buying fresh garlic which is actually really fun to chop and makes food taste great. I always thought I didn't really like cheese on burgers or tacos, when I actually just prefer a milder cheese instead of cheddar or american. I had some sautéed frozen peas for the first time the other day which was shockingly good for how easy it was.

And there are so many things I either haven't tried yet or just didn't have it prepared well. I'm in my 20s and still haven't had lentils yet. Or a tuna sandwich. Or shepherd's pie. Or risotto. Things like that are seemingly so commonplace in other households, and I've just never had it. Whenever I go to the grocery store I just like walking down a couple of the aisles to see if there's some food I never even considered. Like oh wow, they make canned chiles? That could probably be good in a queso dip or even a wrap or something.

I've been watching a few cooking shows on youtube (love watching Adam Ragusea) and it's been completely changing the way I look at food. I look back on my childhood and just think, no wonder all of us were so unhealthy and broke, we only ever ate out or ate tasteless premade food most of the time.