How To Even…Get Your Family To Try New Food

By Michael Gushue & CL Bledsoe

We all get set in our ways, like so much concrete poured in so many exes’ cars. Our loved ones are no exceptions. Mealtime can get to be a drag. The same old stuff out of the same old boxes. You can try to mix it up and introduce new food, but there’s a pretty good chance you’re going to encounter some resistance. Especially from kids. And pets. And everyone.

But that doesn’t mean you should just give up and resign yourself to Taco Tuesdays, Meatloaf Mondays, and…actually, let’s circle back to the tacos. Those can probably stay. But you see our point. Wasabi Wednesdays are out, though, for sure.

So what to do? How can you drag your family kicking and screaming into the exciting taste sensations that are potentially waiting for them? You might need a gun. Or you might need psychology. (Note: it’s gun. The answer is gun.)

Your Spouse

Your spouse pretty much has to eat whatever you put in front of them because they didn’t have to cook it. If your spouse isn’t reacting with gratitude every time you cook for them, you need to dump that zero and get yourself some personal sex toys.

But maybe they need a little nudge. We recommend bribing them. But wait, you may be saying. We share bank accounts. So giving them money doesn’t really make sense. Sure, okay, but is it really money they want? Or is it something else? Beer, for example, or chocolate? Peace and quiet? Maybe your spouse will try your new Italian dish if you promise to shut the hell up about Barb at work for an hour. Or if you promise to watch that new show with them without complaining. Or maybe if you promise to stop farting in the car. Honestly, if you stop farting in the car, you could probably get all sorts of things.

Parents

Let’s say your parents live with you. First off, we’re sorry. Second, have you tried convincing them your house is haunted, so that they’ll move out or go to a home or whatever? This also works on kids.