Brussel's Sprouts and Me! What? Why?

I have done things with Brussel's Sprouts in the privacy of my home that I would never do in  public or even with only one person watching.

Here is the problem, one I don't remember from years back. The remainder of the stem is sooo hard. I don't mind crunchy vegetables, but these seem inedible, un-chewable.

I roll them around in my mouth, chewing politely. However, the hard stem is not giving way. So, I use my fingers to pull the stem out. Or, I let it drop on my plate. Usually, most of the rest of the Brussels' sprout falls out, too. Now, that is gross even if I am alone.

So, giving up, I tried just biting off the stem. First, I held it with a fork. Now, I have an overbite, so I don't have much luck. Then, I just pick it up with my fingers and make a mess as it drips. When I hold the sprout with a fork, the tough end is impossible to bite off,

Finally, I resorted to a more mannerly manner of eating. I used a fork to hold the sprout down and tried to slice off the tough end. That is not working either as the outer leaves come off. Sure, this will become chicken food, but still!

In the beginning, depending on their size, I cut them half into through the stem to top. Some are so tiny that they are  a small bite. Some are definitely a two-bite sprout.

Now, I want to know why. ??? Why are the sprouts so tough? I don't remember these being so tough in the far past. Why now?

At this point, I would be afraid to try to eat Brussel's sprouts in front of anyone!

You may think this is much ado about nothing. But, I have put up with this longer than I care.

Oh, yes. I am using a trusted brand, a brand that should be top notch in frozen vegetables.

Your turn
Do you remember Brussel's sprouts being easier to eat? Was the sprout less tough than they are now? Was the end always so tough?