Drama over food preferences. Is it really that deep?

[Dionysus]

My dad’s side of family judges me really harshly about what I eat (or don't eat). At best I’m criticized, at worst a few prefer not to associate with me because of my food preferences and habits. It’s that deep of an issue with them for some reason. I thought I just happened to live around really ignorant people who judged me on the things I ate. However, lately I’ve been hearing a lot of people complaining about others judging them on their food preferences and habits. Are people critical of what you eat (or don't eat)? Do you have issues with OTHER people’s food choices?

[_Opi_]

My cousin turned vegetarian for health reasons over a year ago, and yeah, she was getting comments and pressures from Family (and Meat is a big thing in our culture). I tease her every once in a while, but I can see how people might judge or comment on others' eating choices.

On another note, I'm lactose intolerant, but my mom thinks that if I drink lots of milk/dairy products, it will go away..lol..right!

[valkyrie]

People judge you on that? Are you serious?

I got a lot of crap from my extended family when I became a vegetarian and then jokes once in a while. Really, it's NOT funny when you say, "Oh but ha ha plants were alive too!" It's been such a long time though that nobody says a word about it any more.

I've never gotten crap from friends about my eating habits, and I'd never give anyone crap about theirs. It's a personal decision, and whether I agree with what you eat doesn't matter.

[FAB*SpiceySpice]

I am probably one of the pickiest eaters alive and I know it annoys my family and friends to death, but nobody really says too much about it anymore.

I have lots of things I don't like which is not all that bad, but even if I have stuff I do like to eat if it doesn't look the way I want it to I will pick stuff out until it looks ok to eat, which is the disgusting part. I try my best to be really discreet about it though I swear!

But judging someone on these things and not hanging out with them b/c of it...how stupid!

[Dionysus]

My dad's extended family takes my vegatarianism a few steps further. I hear stuff like..."Children in Africa are starving, they wish they could eat meat!" or "That vegetarian stuff is for crazy people!" When I was little and used to sleep over at one of my cousins house, my aunt and paternal grandma used to MAKE me eat meat! They made me eat all kinds of foods and I had to eat everything on my plate. Now, eating everything YOU put on YOUR plate is acceptable. Who likes people to waste their food?

[Rudey]

Originally posted by Dionysus
My dad's extended family takes my vegatarianism a few steps further. I hear stuff like..."Children in Africa are starving, they wish they could eat meat!" or "That vegetarian stuff is for crazy people!" When I was little and used to sleep over at one of my cousins house, my aunt and paternal grandma used to MAKE me eat meat! They made me eat all kinds of foods and I had to eat everything on my plate. Now, eating everything YOU put on YOUR plate is acceptable. Who likes people to waste their food?

What if you wrapped the meat with a big old broccoli? Would that help you eat it?

I'm a vegetarian too but I don't get upset if someone says anything. If you make a big response, then they keep going with it.

-Rudey

[squirrely girl]

yah the people who actually worry 'bout what other eat kinda piss me off - seriously just worry 'bout what goes in your own mouth already.

i used to get some stress 'bout it from my family becuase they didn't want to "cater" to my preferences so i just cooked my own until my parents got over it and saw that i wasn't changing

as for my mother in law - she still kinda stresses 'bout it and makes a TON of meaty dishes when we come to visit (tn to maine) which pisses me off cause we only get up there 'bout 1 time a year. i mean really, can you adjust for a couple days a year. ehhhhhhhhh...

marissa

[aephi alum]

My mother-in-law constantly criticizes my food decisions. If I order a medium-rare steak, she says, "That's underdone, it might as well be raw!" (She takes hers well done - read, charred beyond recognition.) If I even mention sushi, it's "How could you possibly STAND to eat that RAW FISH!" She also refuses to accept that I'm watching my carbs (I'm an on-again, off-again Atkins dieter, but even when I'm off Atkins, I avoid sugar and white flour). Carbs are part of every meal they serve, and when I politely refuse a potato or a slice of cake, I get the lecture about how low-carb diets can't possibly be healthy. Did I mention she's at least 50 lbs heavier than I am?

I just don't let it bother me. I know I'm eating foods I enjoy and foods that are healthy for me, and neither she nor anyone else has the right to impose their idea of a proper diet on me.

[Glitter650]

If someone has made a choice like being vegan, a no carb diet, or something like that , I think it should be respected.
That being said I make fun of my friend all the time because she does weird things with her food, like crush her frosted flakes with her spoon before eating it, and eating the chocolate off the edges of snickers bars. It's just because I've known her for 7 years now and have noticed these things, it's friendly teasing.

As a person who loves cooking, though it irks me when people won't try things just because they *think* they won't like it, even when they'll admit they've never tried it before.

[hottytoddy]

I wouldn't say that I judge. But it does get VERY annoying that my boyfriend eats the same thing every day. He is the pickiest eater I have ever seen and we never get to go to anyplace differeent. He won't even TRY anything new. Here's a few of the things he won't eat.

Any Asian/Chinese food
Any Mexican food
Any Condiments (his sandwich from Subway is grilled chicken & swiss cheese nothing else)
rice
green beans
mushrooms
broccoli
ANY seafood


I mean I realize that everyone has different tastes and they're nothing you can do about that. They're are things that I don't like. It's just frustrating to have to limit myself when I am with him. But it doesn't affect our relationship....it's not like I call him stupid because he won't eat Chinese.

[honeychile]

Originally posted by hottytoddy
I wouldn't say that I judge. But it does get VERY annoying that my boyfriend eats the same thing every day. He is the pickiest eater I have ever seen and we never get to go to anyplace differeent. He won't even TRY anything new. Here's a few of the things he won't eat.

Any Asian/Chinese food
Any Mexican food
Any Condiments (his sandwich from Subway is grilled chicken & swiss cheese nothing else)
rice
green beans
mushrooms
broccoli
ANY seafood


I mean I realize that everyone has different tastes and they're nothing you can do about that. They're are things that I don't like. It's just frustrating to have to limit myself when I am with him. But it doesn't affect our relationship....it's not like I call him stupid because he won't eat Chinese.

He sounds so much like mr. honeychile, only he DOES eat seafood and DOESN'T eat red meat. The worst part is that he says, "I'm really easy to cook for!" Yeah, right!

[mmcat]

you are what you eat...
i guess.
gets a little tough at times

[DZTUBAGIRL]

I thought I was the only one who had these problems. I am a very picky eater and I will admit it. My grandparents really bug me about it. Once my grandmother asked me if I wanted a piece of candy and I wasn't hungry, well she went off at me about how I was a spoiled brat. Damn!! I just wasn't hungry. And this past Thanksgiving my grandfather was talking about Green Bean Casserole. I told him that I didn't like it and he said "you kids now days are so spoiled." They came from pretty much nothing and they get mad a people nowdays that don't eat certain foods.
On the other hand I have friends that make fun of me becuase I can't have my food touch on the plate. This is sad but most of the time I use a plate with dividers so that the juices don't touch. I know this is OCD but I can't help it. I don't care that they make fun of me because I know it is weird.

[Glitter650]

Originally posted by DZTUBAGIRL

On the other hand I have friends that make fun of me becuase I can't have my food touch on the plate. This is sad but most of the time I use a plate with dividers so that the juices don't touch. I know this is OCD but I can't help it. I don't care that they make fun of me because I know it is weird.

I don't like my food to touch either. I don't need a divided plate, but I won't eat my eggs at Denny's if syrup has gotten on them. I also eat one thing at a time from my plate.

[valkyrie]

I hate food touching too -- although it depends on what it is. I used to hate it when people would make fun of me and say "it all touches in your stomach!" That so stupid. You can't TASTE it in your stomach.