We all remember the days when a bag of pizza rolls was the height of culinary indulgence…

Ah, the freezer aisle—a veritable playground of processed cheese and “meat” nuggets, where the only choice you needed to make was if you wanted ranch or ketchup on the side (don’t lie, we all dipped).

But fast-forward a few years (and a few zeros in your bank account), and suddenly, you’re swirling a glass of wine at dinner, not because it pairs perfectly with your pasta, but because the sommelier told you to. And who are you to argue with someone whose entire job is telling you what to drink with your $45 entrée?

Yes, the days of tearing into a bag of gummy worms are long gone. Now that you’ve got a job and a few extra years under your belt, that sugary snack has been swapped for a plate of fresh sashimi, where you can indulge in all the rich umami flavors—because apparently, that’s what adulting tastes like.

There’s something magical about the way your taste buds evolve as your disposable income does. One day you’re tearing into a Lunchable and thinking you’re living large, and the next thing you know, you’re at a Michelin-starred restaurant, nodding along as the chef explains how the sea urchin foam complements the umami undertones of the hand-harvested quinoa. Sure, your 8-year-old self would be horrified by the idea of eating something that lived in a spiky shell, but hey, growth is uncomfortable.

There’s a popular belief that our taste buds evolve every seven years, but surprise—that’s just an old wives’ tale. In reality, your taste buds turn over much faster than that. In fact, they regenerate every two weeks. So, that green smoothie you choked down after a questionable weekend? Don’t worry, by next week, it might actually taste… palatable. Or at least, less like lawn clippings.

Of course, as you get older, your tastebud refresh rate takes a serious nosedive. We go from having around 10,000 taste buds at birth to anywhere between 2,000 and 8,000 in adulthood. And as time goes on, we start losing taste buds altogether—some stop working, and others just don’t bother regenerating. What a rip-off, right?

But here’s the upside: fewer taste buds can actually lead to what’s known as a “refined” palate. Those intense, bitter flavors you couldn’t stomach as a kid? Now they’re more than tolerable—they might even make your taste buds throw a little symphony in your mouth.

This is why, as adults, we find ourselves trading milk chocolate for dark, sugary grape juice for a refined Chianti, and that classic grilled cheese for a plate of aged Gruyère.

But this transformation doesn’t end when you stop eating from a lunchbox—it can carry well into adulthood. Just think about those of us who used to down a venti-sized iced coffee loaded with milk and sugar but now can’t stomach it and opt for a simple macchiato instead.

We truly never stopped evolving…

But let’s not pretend we’re all above a little nostalgia. Those childhood comfort foods still hold a special place in our hearts (and bellies). The key is to elevate them, turning those once-shameful snacks into something that says, “Yes, I’ve grown, but I’m still fun at parties.”

We still indulge in many of the same foods we grew up loving—pizza, burgers, and yes, even candy. The difference now? The flavors are just a bit more refined, and let’s be honest, they’re a lot steeper in the ol’ pocketbook.

Unfortunately, budgeting is part of the whole adulting package, and making your own meals at home plays a big role in your tastebud glow-up. In the kitchen, you can experiment to your heart’s content, mixing flavors and tweaking seasonings until you hit that perfect crescendo.

So while you may never fully outgrow your favorite childhood treats—and freezer-aisle snacks will always have a soft spot in our hearts—these days, our bank accounts (and taste buds) are ready for a little more finesse.

Till next time, be wickedly wonderful.