Fun Fact:

Warning: This may shock the average American, so brace yourself! (If you're not from the U.S.A. you probably won't care...)

My entire life I have dreaded lunchtime. I remember in elementary school I would suddenly feel ill every time we were to line up for lunch, and would sometimes even ask to call to go home. 

Everyday my Mom would wonder what was causing me such anxiety and would stress about what she could pack in my school lunch that I would actually eat. 

And what was the key factor behind hating lunchtime you ask? 

I HATE sandwiches. 

I've never liked them and I never will. I realize that the word "sandwich" can cover a broad spectrum of types but I assure you I hate all of them. 

Now, I know hating a certain type of food shouldn't cause anxiety, but it did for me because of the social awkwardness that came along with this curse of hating the ONE food that you know will be an option at lunch- and sometimes the only option. And the ONE food that seemed so socially awkward to hate.

 I mean think about it, if someone tells you they hate fish you're like "ok cool" but if I tell you "I hate sandwiches" the reaction is almost always, "WHAT how could you not like sandwhiches? That is so weird! (Followed by several other questions about why and what I don't like about them)"

It would be fine to just feel kind of weird, but what really got me feeling anxious was that my elementary school would never tell us what we were having for lunch until we were there standing in line for food. 

I would dread the moment I had to tell the lunch lady "no thank you" to the main course. I would literally have to say "no" a few times before I was allowed to pass by with only some grapes and a brownie on my plate. 

I learned to survive those sandwich days with very little food, but since those days were so often, it was brought to the administration's attention that I wasn't eating enough. In turn, they brought in a new rule that you would HAVE to get the whole meal, and then raise your hand when you'd like to leave. 

A staff member would then come around and judge wether or not you had eaten enough of your food and then dismiss you if you had. That's when my anxiety really kicked in:

How am I going to get rid of this food that I hate? Am I going to have to stay in the lunch room forever? 

I began to come up with very creative ways of getting rid of these sandwiches: I would strategically sit next to the people I knew loved sandwiches and would offer them my food when the staff wasn't looking. Other times I would slowly pick off pieces and drop them under the table while no one was looking- until it looked like I had eaten enough to leave.

After elementary school I began to think it would be easier to just not tell people about this food aversion I had, and began to live in secrecy.  

Things got more complicated the older I got. I could no longer pretend to be sick at lunch or drop my food under the table. I had to think of more sophisticated ways of avoiding sandwiches- especially when it came to dating. 

I had, had so many bad experiences telling people that I didn't like sandwiches, and being teased endlessly by my family, that I literally thought my dates wouldn't like me anymore if I told them.

And I always felt like a burden to everyone who knew I didn't like sandwiches because I made things complicated. 

It's crazy because it's so normal to ask clarifying questions to your date like: do you like cheese or mustard? But never did anyone actually think to ask: do you like sandwiches? 

Everyone would be all good to go when lunches were pre packed for hikes, and such, but not me. I would have to find an alternative. So often that was to just go hungry and then make up a good excuse why. 

(I could go into the long lists of how I avoided such situations but I figure it would bore you. All you need to know is that I became a master of excuses and changing plans) 

I'm telling you this to celebrate #nationalsandwichday: the day I came out of the closet to everyone. Few, that feels good!!

In the past, maybe, five years I have been openly telling everyone that I don't like sandwiches, and it is so liberating.  (I figured my dates would have to know if they wanted to marry me) 

I realize now how silly the whole thing was and that it's really not that bad to endure a little questioning and laughter. I also stopped thinking of myself as an inconvenience, and started thinking of myself as unique and someone with a refined pallet. Haha  

(I was particularly pleased to find that my husband, being from Ghana-where sandwiches aren't that common- didn't even blink an eye when I said I didn't like them.)

And thus my 18 or so years of social awkwardness (in the food genre, at least) vanished when I learned to accept my weirdness. Looking back I can see where all the buildup of anxiety grew from, but I wish I could go back and tell myself to just be honest with everyone about what I like and don't like. 

As silly as it is, this experience taught me a lot about accepting people for who they are. Little things can become big things to people- just by the way others react to them.

I can't help but feel a little bitter towards those lunch ladies that thought I had an eating disorder just because I didn't like one item, but I think it goes to show how harsh people can judge others sometimes. And I hope we stop. (And that elementary schools have since changed their policy haha) 

I've only ever met one other person that shares my disgust for sandwiches but I say we make a club and stand strong! 

Happy National Sandwich Day! 

And for me, "National Be Yourself Day"! I hope you all celebrate with me :) 

This is me eating "not so normal" food and loving it! 

Ps if you hate sandwiches too please let me know! I want to know you! 

Just found this and thought 1. was perfect: 

http://www.delish.com/food-news/a47391/things-you-should-never-say-to-picky-eaters/