Food choice defensive

[shootingstar]

What we eat is about so much more than fuel and nutrition. It defines us as a group. Like the clothes we wear, the words we say, the language we speak, our entertainment. So when someone tries to break away from that it's like you're wearing your jeans around your knees

It should be just treated as fuel and nutrition which it is if one is cycling more than 100 km. and just needs nutrition and drink/water!

Well, you get the picture. While eating Chinese food, is just another type of cuisine for some folks...to me, some of the dishes I prepare is like comfort, cultural / family memories that isn't pure Chinese food all the time, but an intersection of Chinese food and Canadian experience: how my mother adapted local ingredients with her spin when in the 1960's, Asian ingredients in small Ontario cities were very rare.

Most likely when she dies, some of her dishes which I prepare casually without any recipe (it's all passed down by me watching her) will have some greater meaning.

For people who criticize Chinese food which has become salty, oily in some restaurants (some places have smartened up and gotten back to basics.), I will tell them: the foundation of my good health, my weight... I credit to my mother's style of cooking where she skimmed off the fat, reduced use of salt and oil, etc.

Of course, there's the other stuff, lovely desserts acquired from knowing dearie's German cooking background/childhood....

If a person has medical condition that they tell me, of a strong allergic reaction to a food, then I will pay attention. Today I was talking to a Indonesian co-bakery owner here in town and told him that several nieces and nephews were allergic to nuts...enough that they end up in the hospital. It came up because it is something all bakers must consider now. Of course Indonesian cuisine use peanut...

They're looking into making a gluten-free cream puff...but it's tough. They might abandon this effort and offer a totally different product for customers wanting gluten-free desserts at catered functions.

[marni]

of course the classic (Merci ma mere) response whenever anyone asks or says anything like that is to look at them, deeply and sincerely and sweetly ask "whatever would make you ask (say) that?" Makes them responsible for their question, comment. One of my mothers
other ittle ditties was" the wise old owl was a funny bird, the less he spoke the more he heard, the more he heard, the more he knew, now I think that's a wise old owl, don't you?"

just sayin

marni

[VeganBikeChick]

I'm also vegan, Atlas. Funnily enough, my family gives me the hardest time - not coworkers or friends. They call all my food "weird sh**", "weird" being things like quinoa and soymilk. However, my dad is currently in end stage renal disease due to his poor diet choices. Every single one of his siblings (9!) has diabetes, and 3 of his brothers, plus him, have all had open heart surgery. I'll pass, thanks.

Don't let the naysayers get to you, wt. I'd have loved one of your cupcakes .

[shootingstar]

Every single one of his siblings (9!) has diabetes, and 3 of his brothers, plus him, have all had open heart surgery.

Scary.

[7rider]

I'm also vegan, Atlas. Funnily enough, my family gives me the hardest time - not coworkers or friends. They call all my food "weird sh**", "weird" being things like quinoa and soymilk.

I have a friend who gives me grief because I'm NOT vegan.

[Catrin]

I have a friend who gives me grief because I'm NOT vegan.

Yep, I've had this happen as well. For some reason many of us appear to view different diet preferences from our own as a form of personal judgement. It makes no sense, and personally, I really like Marni's approach and will have to remember that.

Westtexas, the cupcakes sound quite yummy and I wish you were closer to me The chicken thigh recipe looks yummy and I am going to have to try it!

[westtexas]

Catrin - I definitely recommend it!

I was talking to my mom today about the Thanksgiving menu and suggested we prepare the roasted okra because it is so good. But she's very worried that my grandmother won't like it. And all I could think was, who cares? She can just choose not to eat it, just I will choose not to eat the bread and the pie. It seems like there is such a strong cultural/familial need to please everyone through the food we make and eat. I imagine that is where the hard feelings come from and why we feel attacked when others judge our diets. So glad we are all entitled to our own food choices.