"Hi! Can I have the cheeseburger, but without the lettuce, tomato and um... cheese? Thanks!"

This, my friends, is a direct quote from a notoriously picky eater—me.

Every since I made the transition from formula to solid food, I have been a picky eater. And, if you refer to the quote above, you can tell that I am not a person who simply "doesn't like some food." No, my body decided that it would be fun to reject some of the most beloved foods in America; I don't like ketchup on my fries, vegetables are the bane of my existence and you best hope that none of the foods on my plate are touching (this inadvertently rules out most sandwiches and soups).

Because I've had to live with this thorn in my side for as long as I can remember, I've developed many real-world skills in order to make the experience less annoying. I've learned to commit and state my order confidently whenever I'm telling the waiter what I would like, and I have learned not to be embarrassed by my picky eating habits (Okay, maybe I'm still working on that one).

That said, I've also learned to not make a fuss when my orders go wrong, or when the only food at an orientation is pre-made sandwiches. While I am indeed one of the pickiest eaters out there, I am also one of the most flexible. I hate it when another picky eater gets all freaked out about a restaurant or some place not having food they like, because it's just not worth it -- you just end up seeming not only picky, but high-strung.

I, for one, do not want to be perceived that way, and I would like to bring the least amount of attention to my interesting eating habits. So, whenever I am faced with a new food, I will more likely try it, because who knows? I might like it. In fact, by trying new foods, I have learned to enjoy some pasta dishes that include sauce and even some sandwiches. *GASP!*

Nonetheless, I will admit that having a picky appetite can be very exhausting. For instance, sometimes I just wish I liked soup, especially when I'm sick (Ramen just doesn't cut it anymore). Or, believe it or not, I hate that I don't like salad, because it would be such a simpler way to eat healthy on a college budget. And, like I said before, its difficult not to feel judgment whenever the fact that you don't like some foods, that are usually staples in everyone else's appetites, comes up in conversation. That's one of the main reasons why I am all for trying new foods, because if I end up actually liking it, it's one more food I can add to my list. It's an unspoken fact that when you like more foods, meals are just simpler (also, you get less crap from your friends and siblings).

So, with all that said, you can imagine I was a little worried when I headed off to college -- at home, my mom was always super flexible regarding dinner, usually making a meal for me that I would actually like (no matter how specialized it may be), and I wasn't necessarily expecting the same treatment from my college cafeteria.

However, because of how I act in certain eating situations (refer above), I have been able to get by pretty well. I've tried so many new things that I now like to eat on a regular basis (still not salad, though, to my chagrin), and, if I don't want to waste any time worrying about what food I'll have to try next, the guy at the grill-station now knows my usual, plain hamburger order anyway.

Now, I'm not sure if this article was a letter to my fellow picky-eaters, or if it was an opportunity for me to rant about this quirk of mine (maybe it was both). However, I do know that over the years, I have transitioned from being a "severely-picky" to a "moderate-mild picky" eater, and for me, that's worth more than all the ketchup I've missed out on all these years.