It's funny/strange to look back now. As a child I had clear food favorites and dislikes, and was -- according to my mother -- remarkably stubborn about it.

In one famous incident from first grade, my school had a "clean your plate rule." I was told, "You will sit there until you eat that cheese sandwich." (This was not a toasted cheese sandwich, which would have been totally different. At least to me, this was a dramatically different food, which I had tried and rejected long ago.)

My response was CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

When school let out for the day, I was let go in defeat.

My mother responded with a blistering letter telling them to never do that again, and indeed, they never did. I also started bringing my lunch. As she said in the letter, "I could have TOLD you it wouldn't work, because I've tried that since birth" or the like.

Now, I eat all my favorite fruits (berries, cherries, avocado) and all my favorite meats (in order, beef, pork, salmon, dark meat chicken) and all my favorite vegetables (occasional cole slaw) and it is good for me.