Growing up, I hated every food that wasn’t a chicken nugget. You couldn’t get me to eat anything else. You know how your plate is supposed to be colorful to signify its healthiness? My plate was one color: fried. Sound familiar? For all of you picky eaters out there, this one is for you.

Being a picky eater literally saved my life. Every once in awhile growing up, usually after eating something from a party table filled with food touching, I would develop a strong itchy sensation in my mouth. Thinking it was nothing, I brushed it off.

It wasn’t until I was 14 when I discovered I had a life-threatening allergy to tree nuts.

I grew up in a household that loved nuts. Brownies had walnuts. Thanksgiving jello had pecans. Walnuts sat out on the kitchen island. When I think back to how many times that itchy feeling came about, it scares me half to death.

Had I tried that macadamia cookie someone brought in for a party at school, I would be dead. Had I tried that pecan pie when I was 10, I would be dead. Had I listened to my relatives telling me, "Try it! You may like it!" I would be dead.

Regardless of your reason for being a picky eater, embrace it. Life as a picky eater is tough. From having to repeat your complicated “no-this, no-that” order to make sure your foods don’t touch, picky eating can be a full-time job. We certainly don’t need extra criticism.

Anytime you have plans to go eat, you have to make sure the menu will have something you like. On top of that, when you get to the restaurant, you can feel the waiter judging you for having such a bland order.

Not to mention, you always have to hear that one annoying person at the table ask you, “How do you know if you like it if you’ve never tried it?”

For all of you picky eaters out there, never be ashamed. Keep on munching on those chicken fingers and french fries because you know they’re the safe option. It may just save your life one day.