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Laura and Beth Winters come from a family of proud picky eaters.

"My parents went on their first date to McDonalds," Laura says. "They both pulled open their burgers and wiped off all of the pickles and all of the relish."

In that moment, Laura and Beth's parents knew they had found true love:

"If you're not a picky eater, you don't realize how important it would be to be with a fellow picky eater," Laura adds.

Laura and Beth (above) are fraternal twins, and when they were growing up, the dinner menu at home was pretty limited: chicken, turkey, ham, pork chops, pizza, and soft pretzels.

But in college, Laura and Beth had very different experiences with food.

Laura left home and started exploring new foods with her friends on campus. Beth stayed close to home, and still eats pretty much the same way they did growing up.

Now when Laura goes home, she feels bad that she can't share the new foods she's learned to love with her family. Meanwhile, Beth wishes people would stop judging the way she eats.

"People I know point it out," Beth says. "I just wish people wouldn't do that because it makes me kind of anxious to go out to eat."

This week on The Sporkful, we’re kicking off a two-part series exploring picky eating.

What’s it like to go through life as a picky eater? And why do picky eaters face so much judgment? Listen in to find out.

Plus, later in the show we turn our attention to the most common group of picky eaters: kids.

Dr. Christopher Rutt (above, with his three kids) is a postdoctoral fellow in pediatric psychology at a hospital in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Parents bring him kids with all kinds of psychological and behavioral issues. One of the big ones he sees and treats a lot is picky eating.

But Chris is also a parent, and he knows firsthand how stressful picky eating can also be for parents.

"As parents, there is a little piece of keeping up with the Joneses," Chris adds. "We don't want to look like the failure that we can't get our kids to eat quinoa because they really just like eating hot dogs."

So it picky eating actually a problem? Listen in for Chris's expert take on that.

Interstitial music in this episode by Black Label Music:

- "Sweet Summer Love" by Stephen Sullivan

- "Birthday Party" by Kenneth J. Brahmstedt

- "Steady" by Cullen Fitzpatrick

- "Call (No Lead Vox)" by Nona Marie Invie

- "Feel Real Good" by William Van De Crommert

- "Midnight Grind" by Cullen Fitzpatrick

- "Silver Bucket Seat" by Kenneth J. Brahmstedt

Photos: FlickrCC/Meal Makeover Moms, and courtesy of Christopher Rutt and Beth Winters