I call myself a "Timid Nibbler". Yes, I have a limited scope of food that I will eat. Actually, I shouldn't say limited ... I mean, it's not like all I will eat is potato chips and french fries. (Mmmmm, french fries.......) I eat some pretty wacky things. You can't help it, growing up with the food of your ancestors from Sweden and Germany. Don't even get me started on blood sausage. Or lutefisk.
But I also admit, I am NOT the kind of person who will eat anything. Or even looks forward to trying new foods. My idea of a great world trip does NOT include trying strange bizarre foods. Nor do I think of boasting about what the latest weirdest food combination I had was.
I am open to new foods - I mean, come on, I discovered my taste buds had changed and I actually liked salmon in Scotland last summer. I obviously had to have tried an "i hate this!" food again to have discovered that.
After a friend was picking on me because I don't eat sushi, I sat to think about all this again, and came up with some points. (And FYI, friend who knows who they are, I avoid sushi not because I am "scared of it", but because of horrific after-effects. Raw fish and my digestive system do NOT get along!)
Timing of new food attempts. This category could be broken down into two big areas for me. Timing of sustenance needs, and timing due to stress.
An old boyfriend would bitch about how I never wanted to try new foods - but he broke both of the timing rules over and over and over.
- Sustenance Needs: If I am HUNGRY and need a meal to keep my diabetes under control, then I am NOT in the mood for new and strange foods. I need food that I know the diabetic effects of, and the contents of, and the preparation of, and I don't want to mess with my blood counts just to prove to some pal of yours that your girlfriend isn't a food wimp. I want food to keep me ALIVE. This is not the time to suggest we go try that new all-deep-fried-squid restaurant or that new fusion pate bar. (Both of which are most likely interesting, but also probably hell trying to figure out diabetic concerns on first visit!)
- Stress Needs: If I have just arrived home after a 2-hour commute preceded by a 10-hour work day, and I'm obviously stressed out and needing to relax, this is not the time to insist on forcing me to try new foods. Especially if you ask me to cook it. Especially if you've been home for 4 hours, after a 10-minute commute, and a 6-hour workday. And you haven't even done the breakfast dishes. This all adds up to "Screw you and your pesto-stuffed-octopus-legs, I'm having tomato soup and going to bed". (Yes, I have a thing about eating squid/octopus) Or if we've just come back from a day spent hiking in the mountains, and I mention I'd love to grill some chicken and veggies, do not insist that instead we need to try this new place that stir-fries chicken gizzards right at your table as you do your laundry (I am NOT making that one up!).
If you want me to try new foods, just schedule it around those two needs, or inform me far enough ahead of time so that I can prepare.
For instance, if after investigating the restaurant I realize I won't be eating much of anything good diabetes-wise, I can pre-eat a healthy veggie/protein meal, and prepare for a carb onslaught at your new frou-frou restaurant "Le Pomme de Terre du Lard".
Schedule it for a night you know I won't have a long commute on, or try a non-work day, or even offer to pick me up from work so I don't have to deal with a commute at all! Now THAT'S how to get me to try new food - whisk me from my office building doorway to the restaurant yourself, so I don't spend an hour on the bus getting headachey, tired, sweaty and who knows what else.
Who else is present during new food attempts
If I'm alone, or with close friends, I don't mind trying new foods. But if you insist on dragging along your cousin's neighbor's best friend's college roommate and his 7 other pals, well, no thank you. I do not need strangers judging me based on my idiosyncrasies. I don't mind friends rolling their eyes at my "oh god, not MORE creamed sauce all over everything!" tendencies, because I know and trust them and realize they actually support me in everything I like/hate because they have their own likes/dislikes (yes, I'm looking at you, Ms "I can't eat anything that's been touched by a banana - not because I'm allergic, or could taste the banana, but just because it was NEAR a banana!") but I refuse to have utter strangers start in on me for no reason other than that they feel superior to me.
Have I had time to research the restaurant?
I don't like new food sprung on me last second. "Oh wow, look at the line at the Italian bistro we like." "Ok, so instead of pasta, let's go down the street to the new oysters-and-flan bistro!" Um, no. Give me a day to look them up on-line, to ask friends about them, to call and ask for a quick run-down of the menu.
Knowing is half the battle. Even if I discover that the menu contains 100% new foods, that would be fine - I would *know*. Arm me with information and I can face potentially dangerous food situations more easily. I'll have had a chance to realize every chicken dish they serve comes with a lake of creamy pesto sauce engulfing it (ugh!). I'll be aware that every creamed veggie soup they make has creme fraiche in it (please! someone serve a delicious tasting creamed veggie soup that DOESN'T have that in it!!!). I'll know that their pork is of a lower quality and to avoid trying any of those dishes. I'll know the pitfalls before going in.
I'll also know ahead of time what their seating arrangement is like (I'm a tall, big gal - I need a booth that gives ya room! Or a table with chairs. No tiny little kitchen nook booth for me). I'll be able to figure out where parking is, how to get there, what buses go there from work, etc. This all decreases the stress surrounding new food, and allows me to be open to more adventurous.
So that's it. My rules for timid nibbling. You may think it's an awful lot of rules and work, but it really isn't.
Why, this morning I even tried my eggs a new way - of course, that was because I forgot to actually *scramble* my scrambled eggs before I poured them into the pan, but hey! I discovered I really don't like fried eggs.
Tonight I'll probably try something new, too - but of course, cooking it myself makes it ever so much less scary. I know exactly what's in the dish, I know how it was prepared, and I know where that cat hair came from (SIGH).
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