We all had a food or two we downright refused to eat as a kid that we can't get enough of now.
Children can be pretty selective about the foods they eat. Often times, kids miss out on some of the best dishes and meals because something about it -- whether it's the color, texture or smell of it -- just doesn't sit right with 'em.
With that in mind, we decided to ask our followers on the It's a Southern Thing Facebook page to tell us about the foods they hated as a kid but love now. We got more than 2,000 replies, and let's just say every green vegetable was present.
Another tidbit we learned about reading through the responses? Boiling vegetables, or anything really, isn't a great way to get a kid to them. Oh, and grape jelly can hide the taste of pretty much anything.
You can read all of the responses on our Facebook page.
Brussel sprouts
Shutterstock
"I hated them as a kid. They were awful. Now I love these little colon sweepers." -- Jennifer Griffin West
Turnip greens
(Matt Wake)
"I’m ashamed to admit this, but when I was little, I actually hated turnip greens. I know, I know! It’s hard enough for me to think about, much less say in front of people, but it’s true. Absolutely cannot imagine life without them now, but I was young and stupid back then. Nutrition and my Southern roots meant nothing to me. I am glad to put it behind me now." -- Beverly Stokes
English peas
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"Growing up I only had the kind in a can, and they were nasty. I never knew how good they were until I got married and we grew them in our garden." -- June Reams Brown
Grits
GritsAL.com File Photo
"It was grits, but then a lady at church made some for Sunday school. She added bacon, cheese, butter and plenty of cream. My love affair with them began that day." -- Leigh Denton Sanchez
Okra
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"I really always loved fried okra, but growing up, I would not taste it cooked any other way. Now I love okra any way it is fixed, especially in gumbo." -- Donna Wade
Tomatoes
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"I only hated tomatoes because my brother did. Of course, now I think of all that time I wasted not eating them! What was wrong with me!?" -- Jamie Ellise Gillaspie
Bleu cheese
"I always screwed up my face and told my father he was eating mold. Now I love it." -- Kay Roush Hosford
Rice
Joe Songer/AL.comc
"Growing up I couldn't even be in the house when my mother was cooking rice. Now that I am in my late 60s, I love it. Of course, as an adult, I learned there are many more ways to prepare it than plain boiled with butter." -- Joe Mason
Deviled eggs
Deviled egg platter(Shutterstock)
"Growing up we never called them deviled eggs. Instead, we called them 'party eggs.' I knew I didn't like deviled ham so I assumed I didn't like the eggs either. I was well into my 20s when I learned party eggs were the same as deviled eggs, and I love them." -- Shelle Williams
Broccoli
(Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
"I learned in college that my mother boiled the life out of it." -- Patty Pope
Sweet potatoes
(Tamika Moore)
"Sweet potatoes! I couldn’t stand them. Now I roast them in olive oil and savory seasonings. It's the best!" -- Whitney Zydonik
Cornbread
cornbreadShutterstock
"I had to sit at the table until I finished. I found out later that my mom made terrible cornbread. I liked it at both of my grandparents' houses." -- Virginia Breland
Squash
"Now that is isn’t boiled into submission, it’s great. Same thing with Brussel sprouts." -- Marcia Baker Van Alstine
Potato salad
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"Potato salad of all things! I missed out for years. I slowly built up a tolerance to it by eating a little bit every time I had the chance at family picnics, salad bars, etc. I grew to love it!" -- Christy Carter
Shrimp
Shrimp and grits | AL.com File Photo
"I hated the way they smelled when my mama cooked them. It wasn't until I went to a restaurant as an adult and had them that I fell in love!" -- Crystal Wadsworth
Collard greens
AL.com File Photo
"It was collard greens with chunks of ham for seasoning. I love them now, but mom couldn't get me to eat them." -- Jan Jones
Pot roast
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"Pot roast with carrots and potatoes. We had it almost every Sunday because it was easy for my mom to stick in the oven while we went to church. Fast forward about 30 years, and now it's a favorite." -- Debi Snider
Mashed potatoes
(Jared Boyd)
"I hated them so much as a kid that I put globs of grape jelly on them to hide the taste -- that is until my dad said that was enough of that! Now I love them so much." -- Connie Palmer
Pimento cheese
(Photo by Tamika Moore/tamika@redclaymedia.com)
"My grandma used to make homemade pimento cheese and always wanted me to try it, but I never would. She died when I was 12, and as an adult, I always wish I would have taken even one taste." -- Scarlett Hope Jernigan
Black eyed peas
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"I thought they tasted like pure dirt and only ate them for New Years because Grandma told me it brought good luck. Now I can actually tolerate them a little bit!" -- Aaron Armentrout
Meatloaf
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"I hated it as a kid, but I crave it as an adult. It’s my comfort food." -- Kathy Thompson
Coleslaw
In defense of coleslaw, the unsung hero of Southern cookouts
"It was like a switch was flipped in my brain in my 30s." -- Sarah Lanzing
Biscuits and gravy
(Matt Wake)
"I hated the texture of gravy, but now I can’t get enough of them." -- Christina-Elizabeth Shania Flynn
Cranberry sauce
JLMcAnally/Shutterstock.com
"It's so much better if you take five mins to make it instead of just opening a can of red gloop!" -- Jenna Pace
Fried green tomatoes
Fried green tomatoesLuke Porter/It's a Southern Thing
"I hated fried green tomatoes as a kid, but love them both now." -- Stephanie Moore
Dressing
Cornbread dressingShutterstock
"My mom made it really soggy and used most of a can of sage. As an adult, I've learned seasoning and moisture in moderation." -- Linda Frailey
Barbecue
Matt Wake
"The stuff in Texas and Oklahoma is sooooo much better than the east coast stuff." -- MaryJane Callahan
Beets
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"As a child, I was only subjected to vile, unholy boiled beets with vinegar. I now love roasted beets with olive oil, garlic, and dill." -- Andrea Powell
Cabbage
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"I thought cabbage had to be boiled to within an inch of its life and was nasty! Now that I know you can stir fry and have it still crisp, I really enjoy it! -- Andrea Pennington
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