Family gatherings typically involve heaps of food, and the same dishes often make recurring appearances—both out of tradition and expectation. Unfortunately, many of these foods aren’t actually enjoyed, despite people pretending otherwise. Let’s discover 18 of the foods that families only act like they love!
Fondant
Is there someone in your family who always shows up with a fondant-covered cake, and everyone sings their praises? While fondant does create a smooth, professional appearance, lots of people find it way too sweet and don’t like its chewy texture. Looks certainly can be deceiving!
Caviar
Caviar is often eaten as a status symbol rather than for its taste, which can be too fishy or salty for some. This may be a tradition at your family gatherings, and while its high cost makes it a luxury that everyone really wants to appreciate, can you admit that most people just don’t like caviar?
Grapefruit
As told by Healthline, “Grapefruit is low in calories and provides a significant amount of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.” It can also be served as an appetizer, in a fruit salad, or as part of a dessert, meaning it’s quite common at family gatherings. Unfortunately, the strong, bitter-sweet flavor is not for everyone, often needing heaps of sugar to be enjoyed.
American Cheese
Whether it’s on a burger or topping a mac and cheese, American cheese is definitely consumed at family gatherings—but how much people actually like it is questionable. This kind of cheese is often criticized for its artificial ingredients, and its plasticky texture and mild flavor don’t hold up against “real” cheeses.
Pâté
Is it a family gathering without an unappetizing bowl of pâté lying on the table? While this may be genuinely enjoyed by a rare few, we can bet the majority of people there are only pretending to like it out of tradition. The idea of eating blended liver is pretty off-putting, after all.
Turkey
Turkey is a staple around Thanksgiving, served year after year. Let’s be honest, though. How many people actually like eating it? It may be tradition, but turkey is almost always criticized for its dryness and lack of flavor, and cooking it perfectly is near impossible!
Cranberry Sauce
Continuing on the Thanksgiving train, cranberry sauce is also dished out each year, but its tartness and gel-like consistency (especially when served from a can) aren’t actually enjoyed by many. This is once again more of a holiday tradition than a dish people genuinely crave.
Tater Tots
Do all your family gatherings involve a tray full of tater tots? According to YouGov Today, these crispy little bites are the 15th most popular dish in America! Unfortunately for those who have to continue suffering through them each time a family member brings them out, they’re often oily and heavy, especially when not cooked well.
Baked Beans
Baked beans are typically served as a side dish at many American cookouts, but the sweetness and sometimes mushy texture of them can be a turn-off for many. If you think about it, these beans are basically the default side, even though they can be pretty bland and aren’t always enthusiastically received.
Green Bean Casserole
Another holiday staple that often appears at family gatherings is green bean casserole, which is most likely maintaining its appearance on tables for its nostalgic factor. In reality, this dish is often pretty mushy and relies heavily on canned soup for flavor, which can taste artificial.
Fruitcake
Let’s be real, who’s picking a fruitcake over a nice slice of chocolate cake or even a cheesecake? Nobody, that’s who! Despite its lack of popularity, fruitcake is somehow managing to retain its status as a holiday icon, with people ignoring its dense, brick-like consistency.
Sweet Potato Casserole
As shared by Tasting Table, “Today, sweet potatoes and marshmallows are an unquestionable combination,” but should they be? Many people actually find this dish to be overly sweet, and the mushy texture isn’t appealing to everyone. We think we can confidently say that this is one food most people have a love-hate relationship with.
Ambrosia Salad
Ambrosia salad is yet another dish that most people are only pretending to like, though it maintains its place at family gatherings nonetheless. The mix of canned fruits, marshmallows, and coconut certainly isn’t disgusting, but it’s also not most people’s first choice of dessert.
Jell-O Salad
Similarly, Jell-O salad isn’t the most modern of desserts, is it? It often includes strange combinations of flavors and additives, like fruits or even vegetables. The real issue seems to be the texture, though, which is a challenge for many people. We vote no more Jell-O salads!
Boiled Vegetables
Vegetables are great; they’re delicious when cooked right. Boiled vegetables, however, are almost always served overcooked, resulting in a mushy and unappealing dish. This doesn’t stop them being presented at family gatherings, however, where they’re often served because of how easy they are to make.
Pecan Pie
“The first recorded recipe for pecan pie appeared in church cookbooks published in the 19th century,” as per Southern Living. It’s still served around the holidays today, though many people aren’t overly fond of the sticky, gelatinous texture of the filling. While everyone may dig in enthusiastically, you can bet most people are struggling with the intense sweetness.
Liver and Onions
Liver has a very strong, distinctive flavor that can be off-putting to many, despite being told to eat it year after year. The texture of liver can also be challenging for some people. It’s simultaneously mushy and grainy. Let’s not forget how it smells while cooking… not particularly appetizing at all!
Brussels Sprouts
We’ve already mentioned vegetables on this list, but Brussels sprouts deserve a special shout-out. It’s not uncommon for these to be served at family gatherings, but the boiling of them releases a strong, sulfurous odor that many find unpleasant. The natural bitterness of sprouts can also make them pretty hard to stomach.
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