Getting Used to Non-Mainstream Foods

Pink_Carnation · #21 07/27/06, 12:58 PM

Maybe if you watch a video on rural Chinese cuisine

That can make everything seem more appetizing. Just seeing the ad for the different tofu's gave us a new perspective. Blood tofu and hairy tofu were the worst the best was where they just poured it outside in the snow to solidify.

#22 07/27/06, 01:23 PM

Attitude is where it's at in what we will and won't eat. As a child I don't recall being a particularly fussy eater, but I had a few foods that I wouldn't eat. Now that I'm hitting middle age I've gradually come to eat, maybe even like, some of those foods. A couple of years ago while up at the Hagan farm we were having hamburgers for dinner (the midday dinner) and there was a plate of ripe tomatoes that had been sliced for the burgers. They suddenly looked good to me so I put one on my burger. For forty years I've never liked raw tomatoes, but for some reason they just started looking good and I've eaten them on my sandwiches ever since. Same for sour cream, most raw vegetables, and a few other things that don't come to mind right now.

I'm not fond of mayonaise, but I can eat it on a sandwich if I must. Rhubarb and cooked spinach (plain cooked) are still largely lost to me, but gradually I'm learning to eat the few foods that I never liked before. My attitude towards them has evolved.

Now, if I could just lead my wife to appreciate okra more...

.....Alan.

suzyhomemaker09 · #23 07/27/06, 01:35 PM

Since moving to out little hobby farm and getting more and more different types of animal, I am a firm believer of the whole " you are what you eat" mentality. I slaughter and dress animals that we raise and feed them to our family....that includes some of my MIL's sheep that she herself cannot deal with. Meats from the grocery store are laden with hormones and medications that I personally would not want to consume needless to say that I don't want my 2 young daughters going through puberty at 8 or 9 years of age from ingesting too many RBGH laden meals.
I was not really raised into such a lifestyle...small town but not farm life...lived most of my years in the big city. All that I do now has been learned in the last 2+ years.

big rockpile · #24 07/27/06, 01:58 PM

Truth is the bulk of most peoples diet is vegatables.What meat I have is mostly Wild.I don't care for Beef,I can stomach some Store bought Pork or Chicken.I do like tame Rabbit but would much rather have Wild.

Thing about my diet it keeps my Inlaws away.My FIL thought I was going to kill my family one time with what I was feeding them.

Oh another thing I had a Girl over for Supper,Wife cooked up Beef Steak and Deer.The Girl took Beef first,then said there was another Steak in there asked if she could have it? Well she ate half of it.I asked how it was? She said it was so much better than the first.I told her it was Deer.She wouldn't eat the rest.

big rockpile

savinggrace · #25 07/27/06, 01:58 PM

I am a fussy eater too.

I wouldn't dream of eating a big mac. Or Taco Bell. (the meat there scares me). Or TV dinners. Heck, I won't eat vegetables if they come from the grocery store in a can!

The smell of Pork and Chicken saran wrapped to a bloody pad and styrofoam makes me want to gag. I still smell it, after I cook it.

I still don't like removing chicken's heads. I am anxious for 2 days before when I have it in my mind to do it. But once the head is removed, the rest of it is sort of an adventure!
(If you ever do decide to try processing your own chickens, PM me and I will give you tips on how a wuss processes chickens-with the least amount of trauma to the chicken and me!)
And I have peace of mind knowing my animals have the best quality of life possible, and that the processing aspect is extremely short and as humane as possible. I feel good serving my chickens to my family.

I agree, start slowly, trying new foods. I would say if you are trying something for the first time, try it in a good resturant where it is prepered correctly. Or, at somebody's house who is an 'expert' at whatever the food is! Maybe hang out in the kitchen or next to the BBQ to see how they are preparing it.

Try things at least twice. And prepared in two different ways. I don't much care for ground lamb, but discovered it was ok when we went to this greek resturant in Chicago! Also try hard not to refuse any food you are offered. It's just one or two bites-and if you really don't like it, (again you might just not like how it is prepared) wash it down with some iced tea and take a second helping of potatoes or vegetables!

Best of luck!

Melissa

hisenthlay · #26 07/27/06, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilpatch197

I am trying to become a vegetarian , I cannot figure out how to be a vegetarian and NOT eat lettuce at every meal!

Hm, that's funny. I'm a vegetarian and I almost never eat lettuce.

I grew some in the garden this year, and it looked plenty nice, but we never got around to eating it before it bolted--I don't know why I bother with the stuff.

Now, on the other hand, the tomatoes, peas, peppers, beans, and squash don't last too long once they come ripe... mmm.... The one vegetable that goes in almost every meal around here is onions!

Personally, I think that the reason most Americans don't like to eat deer, rabbits, etc. is that they think of them primarily as living, breathing, cute and fuzzy ANIMALS, and not as FOOD. With the more common "food" animals, most Americans have just been conditioned to conveniently block out the fact that their steak used to be attached to the nether regions of an animal with a soft nose and big brown eyes. They haven't had the same conditioning with bunnies and Bambi, so they can't forget about the animal while they're eating it. And in my mind, if a person can't "stomach" (lol) the thought that their food used to have feelings, then they shouldn't eat it. If something doesn't seem right to you when you think about all the facts behind it, then you shouldn't do it. That's my approach, anyway.

savinggrace · #27 07/27/06, 02:07 PM

[QUOTE=tinkna

I used to hate cheese, but I've used this very method and now I love almost every type of cheese.

As usual, JMO.[/QUOTE]

OMG! I didn't know it was possible to hate cheese! I can't imagine life without cheese! Once a doctor diagnosed some dry skin I had as 'milk allergy'.
No milk products, and supposedly my dry skin would be 'cured'.

So for about 1 wk, I did ok-no dairy. Though I found myself craving cookies and milk.

Then, week two, I couldn't resist the cheese counter at the grocery store, and I had a cheese sandwich for lunch. It was like HEAVEN!

That ended my 'no dairy' thing. I just learned to take short showers and use moisturizer.

What can I say? I grew up in Dairy Country!

Oilpatch197 · #28 07/28/06, 01:12 AM

The main reason for a vegitarian diet is saftey, with meat/seafood there is a good risk of food poisoning, and listening to a guy that got food poisoning after eating shrimp, it's just nasty, and the guy hasn't had shrimp since!

Thinkinaboutit · #29 07/28/06, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savinggrace

(If you ever do decide to try processing your own chickens, PM me and I will give you tips on how a wuss processes chickens-with the least amount of trauma to the chicken and me!)<snip>
Melissa

Would you mind having a public discussion about this? I am going to start a new thread in the poultry forum rather than hi-jack this one. Could you please share your tips on the new thread?

www.WhatIsTheTrueGospel.com

Maura · #30 07/28/06, 10:15 AM

Oh, go ahead and get a few chickens. Buy them as cute little one day old chicks. Keep them in the house for the first week, then start putting them outside, still in their cage during the day. After that, set up a little pen for them during the day, but still bring them in at night. By this this, time you should have a permanent area for them to be in at night and a coop. If you start now, you may have eggs before winter. If you wait, you won't have eggs until February or March. The first eggs that are laid can be used in baked dishes or ice cream. People will start eating them if you stop buying eggs in the store. Before you know it, your daughter will be extolling the virtues of free range eggs.

treefrog · #31 07/28/06, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susieM

Visit another country....then it's eat it or starve.

i've often been in countries where i didn't speak the language very well, and have eaten quite well even if i didn't know what it was. when i was first living in paris (1965), i found a "self service," what we might call a cafeteria. it had lots of things i could point at. down at the end of the line, there was a grill with a list of stuff i could look up in my pocket dictionary. for a couple weeks, i was eating "steak" @ one franc seventy, as i worked my way down the list, dictionary in hand. near the bottom they had "biftek" of beefsteak @ three francs seventy. i had been eating horse meat. it's pretty good, but very lean. almost as lean as venison. i was back in that neighborhood not long ago, and the self service cluny is no more. in its place stand the golden arches!

pax
t.f.

via media · #32 07/28/06, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savinggrace

I would say if you are trying something for the first time, try it in a good resturant where it is prepered correctly.

Yes! This is a great suggestion. Not only do you have a better chance of liking it but you don't have the added pressure of possibly insulting your best friend/MIL/preacher's wife if you don't care for it.

And try it different ways. Steak tartar is way different from meatloaf!

/VM

big rockpile · #33 07/28/06, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hisenthlay

Personally, I think that the reason most Americans don't like to eat deer, rabbits, etc. is that they think of them primarily as living, breathing, cute and fuzzy ANIMALS, and not as FOOD. With the more common "food" animals, most Americans have just been conditioned to conveniently block out the fact that their steak used to be attached to the nether regions of an animal with a soft nose and big brown eyes. They haven't had the same conditioning with bunnies and Bambi, so they can't forget about the animal while they're eating it. And in my mind, if a person can't "stomach" (lol) the thought that their food used to have feelings, then they shouldn't eat it. If something doesn't seem right to you when you think about all the facts behind it, then you shouldn't do it. That's my approach, anyway.

Thats why I say don't be playing with your Food,in other words don't be making a Pet out of an animal you are going to eat.

I was helping a woman the other day.She said ,"People don't have to Hunt for Meat that all they have to do is go to the Store and buy it".True but an animal has to die,might as well have the best Protein availible.

big rockpile

via media · #34 07/28/06, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilpatch197

The main reason for a vegitarian diet is saftey, with meat/seafood there is a good risk of food poisoning, and listening to a guy that got food poisoning after eating shrimp, it's just nasty, and the guy hasn't had shrimp since!

There's also a danger in fruit, bean sprouts, eggs...you name it. If E. coli doesn't get you, Salmonella will. You can come down with Legionnaires' disease by drinking well water (or public water, both are at risk).

So depressed immune systems and religious beliefs aside, you've got to get out and try things!

/VM

jerzeygurl · #35 07/28/06, 04:52 PM

check out cook books from you library, esp ethnic ones true german hosenphepher is better by far than a generic recipe for example.

tinknal · #36 07/28/06, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savinggrace

OMG! I didn't know it was possible to hate cheese! I can't imagine life without cheese! Once a doctor diagnosed some dry skin I had as 'milk allergy'.
No milk products, and supposedly my dry skin would be 'cured'.

So for about 1 wk, I did ok-no dairy. Though I found myself craving cookies and milk.

Then, week two, I couldn't resist the cheese counter at the grocery store, and I had a cheese sandwich for lunch. It was like HEAVEN!

That ended my 'no dairy' thing. I just learned to take short showers and use moisturizer.

What can I say? I grew up in Dairy Country!

Well, My Dad was a milkman, and I grew up surrounded by dairy farms.......... I lived on the stuff........except for cheese. Now I love it and have worked in a cheese factory for the last 8 months. Gained about 10 lbs,........... :baby04:

Deb862 · #37 07/28/06, 06:27 PM

when we first started raising chickens, no one to include husband, children, and me wanted to use even the eggs. One day, I had enough of that and used some in a cake I made. They were pretty grossed out when I told them afterwards but admitted it didn't kill them! After that, it became gradually easier for us to use the eggs until the day arrived that we actually PREFERRED them to store bought ones. Same with the meat birds, although that took a little longer due to the butchering process. We are still not fond of butchering. Same thing happened when we ate 'real' potatoes the first time, too. We didn't like them because they tasted to "earthy" compared to store bought. Now, I wish I had some home grown taters!

I would say start small and introduce real foods slowly. Your taste buds will change in time.

Morria07 · #38 07/28/06, 08:39 PM

I HATE store bought turnups over home grown...and potatos, when I dont grow them, I like to get from the local farms...I love home grown!

Spinner · #39 07/28/06, 09:01 PM

I can only imagine how hard it would be to switch from store bought to home grown. I remember it was a terrible experience to have to eat store bought after being raised on home grown. I wouldn't drink milk for years, and still can't eat margerine in place of butter. It's all in how you are raised, but most can be changed. And yes, hunger has a lot to do with it. When I got hungry enough, I actually drank some of that milk from the plastic jugs, and ate veggies from tin cans. It seems like I used a LOT of spices to cover the taste in the beginning, but eventually I got used to it and now buy them without another thought. I'm working my way to my roots by growing a garden and raising my own meat, but still have store bought stuff in the house. The store bought stuff is at the bottom of the food chain, but it's here.

HilltopDaisy · #40 07/28/06, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hisenthlay

Hm, that's funny. I'm a vegetarian and I almost never eat lettuce.

I grew some in the garden this year, and it looked plenty nice, but we never got around to eating it before it bolted--I don't know why I bother with the stuff.

Now, on the other hand, the tomatoes, peas, peppers, beans, and squash don't last too long once they come ripe... mmm.... The one vegetable that goes in almost every meal around here is onions!

Personally, I think that the reason most Americans don't like to eat deer, rabbits, etc. is that they think of them primarily as living, breathing, cute and fuzzy ANIMALS, and not as FOOD. With the more common "food" animals, most Americans have just been conditioned to conveniently block out the fact that their steak used to be attached to the nether regions of an animal with a soft nose and big brown eyes. They haven't had the same conditioning with bunnies and Bambi, so they can't forget about the animal while they're eating it. And in my mind, if a person can't "stomach" (lol) the thought that their food used to have feelings, then they shouldn't eat it. If something doesn't seem right to you when you think about all the facts behind it, then you shouldn't do it. That's my approach, anyway.

Excellent post!!