An Alphabet Of Things I Don’t Like: A

~ beetleypete

Apples.

I know, it’s a strange choice. Who doesn’t like apples?

At one time, I loved to eat them. My two favourite varieties were Worcester and Granny Smith.

Worcester.

Granny Smith.

I was also known to eat a Pink Lady apple, and sometimes a Braeburn. In my thirties, I might eat as many as four apples a day. They were easy to eat when I was working, and stopped me choosing bad things like doughnuts instead.

But years of shift work and hurried meals began to take their toll. I started to suffer from stomach pains caused by gastric reflux. A legacy of fast foods, and eating far too late at night. I was sure that apples were good for me, so carried on eating them as I avoided other foods that I thought were making me ill. But my doctor told me something I was unaware of. Apples are naturally hard to digest. They are fibrous, and contain a lot of natural fruit acids. He told me to avoid them, along with fresh pineapples too.

And a visit to my dentist led to more discoveries. I should not be eating apples without brushing my teeth after, or the fruit acid would linger, and affect the enamel. He also advised me that fresh pineapple was potentially damaging to my gums. I was in a busy job with the emergency services, and certainly had no chance to brush my teeth every time I had eaten something. So the apples had to go.

Every so often, I do allow myself some apple strudel, or a small portion of apple pie. Once the apples have been cooked, they don’t seem to affect me so badly.

But apples are on this list now. Sorry, apples.

70 thoughts on “An Alphabet Of Things I Don’t Like: A”

    1. I used to like them, until they started to upset me.
      How are you? Everything going well with you and the baby? I haven’t been on Twitter much, but was wondering about you after the caesarian. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete. x

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      1. I’m good thank you 🙂 little lady is a week old now, we got home Saturday night and she’s bought us so much joy already. Will announce on my blog soon. Hope you’re doing OK 🙂

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  4. Ah, a new A-Z series in reverse. I know what “I” will be! Apples are native to New England, and very plentiful. I can’t imagine not eating them. I feel badly for you, Pete, although strudel is quite delicious.

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  10. I don’t eat raw apples much as I find them too much trouble. And the ones you get in the store are too big and often disappointing. But this year I enjoyed a small crop from the tree I planted a few years back. They were fresh, tart, juicy, and a nice small snack size, easy to eat, just like they should be. 🙂

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  18. (1) Did you hear about the lady who ran an apple farm? She was being pressed by Applestiltskin to grow golden apples.
    (2) Apples are known to have esprit de core.
    (3) I can understanding your desire to eat the Pink Lady. After all, she did ask, “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?” But Granny Smith?
    (4) Eve had no problem eating her apple. But Adam’s apple got stuck in his throat.
    (5) Christina Applegate is married with child. Just one child! We need to investigate Applegate!
    (6) If you cross an apple tree with a pine tree, you don’t get a pineapple tree. But did you hear about the crab that ate an apple?
    (7) It’s alleged that placing hedge apples around the foundation of your house will repel midges, banglets, and other flying insects. Don’t believe it. These little buggers actually get postcards from the hedge apples inviting them to dinner.

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  19. Its not so much you don’t like them the, just they don’t like you? 🙂
    With 30 litres of cider on the go and 70 litres of apple cider vinegar, not to mention the cooked apples in jars ready to go in pies and strudels and a good couple of crates of fresh apples to keep us going over winter, I’m just glad my stomach doesn’t complain, even if my head does if I overdo the cider 🙂

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  22. When pregnant back in 1982 I had a craving for apples. I ate so many of them that the enamel began to erode from my front teeth, so your dentist was correct. However, I didn’t know that info about pineapples. I found a lovely dentist who corrected the erosion. I don’t eat apples now and can’t eat pineapple since having radiotherapy, as it burns the inside of my mouth.

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    1. The small individual fibres of fresh pineapples are incredibly sharp. If you have soft or sensitive gums, they can actually cut them, and you can see the blood on the fruit as you eat it. Like many hard fruits, that fibrous nature makes them hard to digest too. It’s a shame, as I used to so enjoy eating them fresh.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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        1. I have heard how cancer treatment can completely change the tolerance of some foods, and increase the desire for others. I sometimes have a banana, and I like them in a toasted sandwich. But I don’t eat so much fruit these days, as I find many soft fruits like strawberries no longer taste of anything. Grapes are a favourite still, but I mainly eat those with cheese. 🙂
          Best wishes, Pete.

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          1. You’re right about the strawberries – I suppose they’re all forced hothouse fruits. I remember going strawberry picking as a girl with my aunt and uncle. The strawberries certainly tasted differently then.

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  23. I knew it: haha: the list of things you don’t like is here! I was looking forward to it! 😂😂 I know what you mean about apples Pete. I have the same problem. I used to love apples, but lately they don’t seem to agree with my stomache anymore😢 Real shame as I really do like them 😢

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  24. I can’t eat apples in the evening either as they give me indigestion. Thanks for confirming the situation.
    I do like apple crumble but the best apples to eat raw are pink lady and they are so expensive as they are from the USA.Granny Smiths are too hard and worcesters seem to have disappeared.Someone tell us if pears are just as bad as they are as nice if you catch them at the right stage.
    I was afraid your list of things you don’t like was going to be depressing but your usual humour shines through. Thanks, Pete.

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    1. I used to eat pears, especially Japanese Pears. They are delicious, but also expensive. I stopped eating them around the same time, just in case, and now only rarely eat them poached. That’s usually in a restaurant, and it has been a few years since I last had any.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  26. I do like the taste of apple, but I am very lazy when it comes to eating them ‘raw’, as it were; any cooked variety though: puree in pies or apple sauce, apple juice and, very occasionally, cider, I relish. As far as my teeth are concerned: I’ve given up worrying about them: I do get some cavities still and several that need occasional maintenance, but my gums are more problematic. Hopefully they’ll see me out, though 😉 Cheers, Jon.

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