This is Why I Will Never Try Fiddleheads

I recently moved to Maine and I have come to learn that fiddleheads are a big tradition in Maine. Honestly, at first, I had no idea what a fiddlehead was until I saw them at my local supermarket. I will say that this is one Maine tradition that I will not be trying out.

Now before you get upset or disappointed, I just need to say that the reason that I am not trying them isn't that I don't want to taste a Maine tradition, it is just that after doing some research I've decided that it is just not for me.

First off, I am an extremely picky eater. I would literally eat like a 5-year old all day long if I could. I do eat vegetables and like to try new foods, do not get me wrong, however, when I learn that something could actually be dangerous I feel that it's okay to shy away.

You may argue that there are a ton of foods that if cooked incorrectly could be dangerous, however, I have learned to cook those properly. Fiddleheads are something completely new to me, and honestly, I wouldn't even know where to start with seasoning them, let alone cooking them.

According to British Columbia Drug and Poison Information Centre (BC DPIC), one should never eat a fiddlehead raw. Now, I'm not saying that I would eat it raw, I honestly think the only vegetable I would ever eat raw is a carrot. BC DPIC goes on to write about how is you do eat it raw or if the fiddlehead isn't cooked correctly that it could have some negative side effects. These side effects include symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, dehydration, and headaches.

Honestly, I don't really want to take my chances, at least not by myself. Maybe, just maybe, if someone that has prepared fiddleheads in the past and knows how to flavor them wants to offer me some, I will give them a try. I will just have to keep a bottle of Pepto nearby, just in case.