Table 4.

Examples of comments on factors that would improvise acceptability and consumption frequency of bitter melon-containing food dishes.

Recipes	Comments to the question "How could this dish be better so that you would consider eating it?"
Chili	➢ "Use more beans, they help temper the bitterness; needs stronger flavor (try adding chipotle pepper)"
	➢ "I think this is a great way to incorporate bitter melon."
	➢ "Onions and garlic"
	➢ "Adding more sweetener"
	➢ "More rice"
	➢ "Add salt"
	➢ "Needs more spices; I like spicy chili"
	➢ "I think meat could overpower the bitterness"
Tomato Sauce	➢ "Less bitter, less hard chunks"
	➢ "Don't like bitter food; needs meat"
	➢ "It could be better with more sugar."
	➢ "This was very good! It would be very good with scallops, as they have a nice contrasting 'sweetness'."
	➢ "Maybe a little more spices"
	➢ "More garlic"
	➢ "I thought the flavor, texture, & seasoning were all pretty good. Maybe if some cheese were added it would make it more appealing."
	➢ "Still quite bitter, but the spices actually cover it well. The spiciness is quite strong."
Curry	➢ "Way too bitter; needs meat"
	➢ "It would be better with more gravy"
	➢ "Maybe add other veggies; it was really bitter."
	➢ "Could have more curry and spices"
	➢ "More salt and spice; too plain"
	➢ "Stronger curry spice; garlic would help; and spice peppers"
	➢ "More garlic"
	➢ "More sugar or I would eat it when I'm sick."
Minestrone Soup	➢ "Make it more sweet or salty to cover up the bitter after taste."
	➢ "This would actually be a really good dish with a little more garlic and salt."
	➢ "Less pepper taste; love the veggies (carrot & corn)"
	➢ "The spices really contribute a lot to this dish and bitter melon taste is minimal; maybe more spices or tomato flavoring?"
	➢ "Add meat"
	➢ "More herbs and seasoning"
	➢ "I liked that it was flavored well and that the bitter melon flavor was pretty well balanced. I wouldn't change it."
	➢ "Less bitter"
	➢ "It was too bitter; maybe use less bitter melon. More garlic might be good."