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Taste test

(article, Kim Carlson)

KISS is the answer: Keep It Simple, Stupid ... er, Sweetie.

Over on Metafilter, a thread started by a person who wants to shift his/her tastes from "goat to gourmet" on a college-student budget garnered lots of good advice. 

Many commented that simplifying the foods you buy is an important first step. So, buy good cheese, whole grains, vegetables. Eat beans and rice, and flavor them simply, maybe with fresh cilantro, onion, and tomatoes (especially when they're in season). 

With many vegetables, all you need to do is cut them into bite-size pieces, toss them in a bit of olive oil, and roast them in a hot oven until they're softened (but not too soft — or blackened). Sprinkle on a little kosher salt and some freshly ground pepper, and you're on the yellow brick road to better eating. (Check out Andrea Chesman's cookbook [%amazonProductLink asin=1558321691 "The Roasted Vegetable" newpage=true] for more vegetable tips.)

In short, learn to cook. Wean yourself from Power Bars. (Although having just tasted a cherry-pie Larabar, I'm not ready to give up on snack bars entirely.)

Last week in Sift, we featured a piece on taste that offers additional advice: Keep trying foods you want to like. It may seem like an exercise in futility, but as many Metafilter users point out, taste buds — like most other things — can change.