About > Ryan Callahan
Ryan Callahan
{Photographer}
One of my first food memories takes place at the dinner table when I was about six years old. I was eating a pasta salad with peppers, onions, spinach, and olives— my parents always made meals with certain foods I thought were disgusting. Of course, this was only to teach me the value of good food, but I especially hated this meal.
I was a picky eater growing up, and olives were my nemesis. This meant I would usually sit at the table for an hour until I finally finished my food, trying to find a way out of eating. This night was no different.
“I will throw up if I eat these olives,” I told my parents.
“Well, then you will have to eat your throw up,” replied my dad. “You can’t waste food.”
I knew I would eventually have to eat them so I surrendered to my olive-filled fate. As I brought the fork closer to my face, the smell made me gag. When I popped one into my mouth, my stomach tightened, my throat burned, and I watched as my entire dinner was returned to my plate, just a little more digested.
My parents got the point, and I got to eat a bowl of my favorite cereal. But the whole experience taught me something about myself: I do not like olives.