"Henhouse" <
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>A friend of mine accused me of being a food snob the other day. Why?
>Because I don't buy processed food, and never go to fast food eateries. I
>also always buy free range chicken and use either eggs from our own free
>range chooks, or bought duck eggs. I also buy organic foods from time to
>time, and try to buy seasonally and locally (being aware of food miles
>etc.) Does this really make me a food snob? I feel quite insulted, to tell
>you the truth - I don't dictate what others should eat, I just make the
>choices I prefer. I enjoy cooking and have the time to spend doing it, plus
>access to great local produce - I'm not sure why this could be seen as
>wrong in some way!
>
> My friend got quite heated about it all, and told me that if I'd got four
> kids and was working full time, I'd soon change my ways and opt for foods
> I could just stick in the microwave (not that she has the four kids etc.,
> just the one 25yr old son). I'm not likely to ever find myself in that
> position, but I imagine that if I had children I'd be even more concerned
> about the foods they were eating than I am about my own. I could be wrong,
> of course!
>
> This is the same friend who is happy to come to dinner at my house, but
> who refuses to return the favour, as she is 'frightened' of cooking for
> me, as I am (allegedly) good at it - LOL! I'd be happy with beans on
> toast, if someone else had cooked it - but that's by the by.
>
> Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else here has suffered a similar
> accusation, and had any good arguments with which to refute it? Or perhaps
> you think my friend is right and I'm just too precious about the whole
> topic? Opinions welcomed!
>
> Jo
This reminds me of a couple I know who have both, at one time or another,
said to me "I eat to live, I don't live to eat..." While they don't actually
point fingers at me and proclaim that I live to eat, this is the
implication.
When I picture someone who "eats to live" I think of someone who had little
choice and who eats whatever is available. These people, on the other hand,
are picky eaters, IMO. They each have a long list of things they won't eat.
When I picture someone who "lives to eat" I picture someone for whom food is
the entire goal. That's not me. I have plenty of other interests, and I can
be quite happy with a simple meal. But I like to cook and I enjoy eating
good food. I like spices and vegetables and ethnic foods, and a wide variety
of things.
What they mean by their statement is that they "sort of" disapprove of the
time and effort I spend cooking. They don't understand the use of spices,
and anything that can't be on the table with 20 minutes or less of effort
isn't worth doing. They don't get the idea that I like to cook as much as
they enjoy whatever hobbies they have that I'm not interested in, and that
for me, cooking isn't a chore, it's enjoyable. And both DH and I enjoy a
well-made meal, and we like different types of foods, ethnic foods, a wide
range of things. We're not picky eaters at all.
But while these folks seem to disapprove of the time I spend in the kitchen
(or the time they imagine I spend in the kitchen -- there are a lot of
fast-cooking dishes that I make that are fresh, tasty, and healthy) when
they come here for dinner, they eat like ravenous wolves. I've seen them
each eat 3-4 large helpings. And every time we're invited over there, I'm
asked to bring a dozen or so fresh buns. Or a loaf of bread. Homemade, of
course.
I'd say that their "Live to eat" comment is like your friend's "Food snob"
comment. You go through time and effort that your friend wouldn't bother
with. If you want to keep this friend, just agree to disagree. If you think
you can (or want to try to) change her opinion, invite her over to cook with
you and whip up something fresh, easy and fast. When she sees that you can
put a meal together in the same time it takes to nuke some nuggets and make
mac 'n cheese, she might be interested. Or not.
Donna
