Anyone recognize this fruit? I had never bought one before but Costco had them for such a great price, I couldn’t resist.
The children, always open and eager to try new foods (ha!), were SHOCKED to see the seeds inside. How can they know what fish eggs look like? Really, I have to wonder what kind of science they are taking at their school.
None of the children liked the fruit at all. Joshua said it was too much like cantaloupe (and this is bad how?) and rejected even his small little bite. Daniel and David, who both LIKE cantaloupe , weren’t impressed either. Hmmm. I think this is one of those cases where you just keep presenting a new food until it’s not ‘new’ any more. Theoretically that works for picky eaters. I’ll have to ask my sister-in-law (who has a picky eater or two in the family) to report on that theory. Eliz, any thoughts?
Needless to say, I made up a fruit smoothie this evening (including this mystery fruit, banana, frozen blueberries, milk and honey) and all the children loved it (except for that cantaloupe hater, Joshua).
I know some people have smoothies on a regular/daily basis. We fix fruit blends more in the summer when it’s warm. Hard to really cozy up to a glass of iced drink when it’s grey and cold outside. Still, what a great snack – sweet and healthy – I may need to get back in the habit.
Kathy
Is it a papaya? Steph will know. I love you. JW and I are off to Anna’s house soon. It’s white outside. Love you, AK
So what is the mysterious fruit with the “caviar” in the middle????
Speaking as one of the picky eaters in my family (and, coincidentally, a cantaloupe hater), I would say that the “just keep giving it to them until they accept it” scheme does NOT work. I’ve been eating greenbeans for as long as I can remember and… well, a green bean is still a green bean no matter how you fix it or how many times you have to eat it. Then again, there are the freak cases when you don’t like a food, so you hardly ever eat it, and then one day you try it again and do like it.
Aunt Kate wins the prize, it is indeed a papaya. I know this because of my vast pomological experience, or possibly because Kathy pointed out to me the sticker on the side of the fruit that said, “Papaya”. (Yes, I had to look up the word ‘pomological’ — I started with ‘fruit science’, but that didn’t sound impressive enough.)
It was pretty disconcerting to cut into that fruit and find those fish-egg-like seeds in the middle — we wondered, “Is this a normal papaya or did something burrow into this one and lay eggs?” A little quick research seems to indicate that ours was somewhat ‘normal’, at least for the Hawaiian variety.
The “keep introducing it until it’s not new anymore” does work to make a new thing not new, but it has nothing to do with making it acceptable or liked among picky eaters! Then it becomes an old yucky food instead of a new yucky food.
Papaya is good food, I think, but I hear that it is definitely an acquired taste. A really ripe one is strong. Some people are seriously allergic to them, too.
We like Mango, we found some dried with lots of sugar sprinkled on top! But in the PI we tasted it fresh, and it was quite good but like papaya is an aquirred taste and quite strong.
Bess
I think mangos and guavas are much more naturally appealing flavors. I didn’t care too much for papaya the one time I tried it. But I’m a somewhat picky eater, too.
I think I just approach most fruits and veggies as if they are going to taste good. I go into the situation (brussel sprouts are the exception but then that’s another blog) expecting to like them.
I’ll have to find some mangos and quavas next! Yum. More fruit to try. What about starfruit? I’m still unclear about how you eat that one.
Eliz–oh dear, you and Rebecca seem to agree about food and picky eaters. I love the line about the food becoming an ‘old yucky food’ instead of a ‘new yucky food.’ Too funny!!!!
I LOVE it.. name that movie AND name that fruit!
Hi! Yes, it is a papaya. Allegedly a very good fruit for cleaning out your digestive system, so eat in small portions. : ) Be careful!