FoxTrot Classics by Bill Amend for May 03, 2024

I knew it.

I’ve always been confounded why people would serve their children foods that smell like farts. I never forced my kids to eat Broccoli or Brussels sprouts.

My mom, who has always been big on health eating, never served us brussels sprouts even once…primarily because she never liked them herself.

Buy the smallest ones you can find, chop those boogers in half, drench them in butter and toss them on the grille. It will change your whole perspective.

I love Brussel sprouts…

There was a “Leave It To Beaver” episode on the subject of having to eat Brussels sprouts.

If you steam veg instead of boiling it into mush, more people would eat them. Roasted are good too.

You do realize that’s exactly the idea, Andy…

Thought they were talking about raw oysters.

Oven roast them. No smell and they taste much better.

I love Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower. Lightly toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and some seasoning of choice (I typically use taco seasoning or something with garlic in it). Roast at 450 for about 15-20 minutes or longer (depending on oven). Sprinkle shredded cheese on top and under the broiler until cheese is melting. It’s all I can do to not eat them until dinner is ready :)

Now that I think of it, any vegetable tastes good when you roast them. Caramelize them baby!

That said, gammaguy’s explanation above is spot on. Similar to how cilantro can taste like soap to some people but I love it. My partner adores bananas, I cannot stand the smell and refuse to touch it with bare hands :D

Another thing to note is that our taste buds and food preferences change with age and experience. I couldn’t stand eggs as a child, now I can’t get enough of them. I love dark chocolate and coffee now but definitely remember stating they were gross when I was about 10 or so. The milk chocolate I adored as a kid tastes too sweet for me now. So you never know what may change.

That’s why I like to taste different foods I don’t like every few years. Maybe I’ll like them as an adult. Maybe it just needed a different cooking method or recipe. Why deprive myself of new flavors now because I once declared “cabbage should be in the garbage, not on my plate”, about 5 decades ago?!

I like Brussels sprouts. I’m rather fond of broccoli and cauliflower, too.

I and my grandkids luv Broccoli and Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. Must be a matter of what taste good to you.

Picky eaters!

I told my nephew they were alien brains, so of course he ate them right up.

Just calling em as they see em.

I always liked Brussel sprouts. Not so much squash or okra that is fried without being breaded first (it becomes slimy).

MMmm, MMmmm, musical fruit, the more I eat, the more I toot!!!

I was lucky, my parents didn’t like brussel sprouts or liver and onions or other ‘nasty’ foods so I wasn’t forced to eat them.

Slice them and grill them. Drizzle a little olive, avocado or sesame oil on them and MMMMMMMMM.

More Brussels sprouts for me!

I always thought they looked like alien brains. Yum.

My parents persuaded me not to talk like that at the table when I was younger than any of those kids.

Guys, now’s your chance to pressure Mom into NOT fixing that anymore! And now, speed dial pizza delivery!

I’m tempted to hypothesize that people who like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and the like actually would (perhaps do) love giant boogers, but I am fighting the temptation.

To quote or at least paraphrase the immortal tome, the _Impoverished Student’s Guide to Cookery, Drinkery, and Housekeepery":

That maxim observed, they’re good (even without bacon).

I always figured Brussels Sprouts were the vegetable equivalent of Rocky Mountain oysters.

Those are some big brusel sprouts, the ones i see in the store, I totally avoid them, seem to be half the size of the ones that they are eating.