Foodism

I’m coining a new term called ‘foodism’.  I’m assuming nobody has come up with that.  If you’re foodist (not a ‘foodie’), you’re a person who has made up their mind they don’t like certain types of cuisine without having tried them first.  You’re being foodist if you express disgust at the sight and smell of edible delights others are trying to enjoy and make offending remarks at the same time.  Your foodist jibes are narrow-minded and you’re being selfish for imposing your pointless and unwanted views on unsuspecting individuals.   Do you see where I am going with this?

This morning I was feeling peckish so I went to the canteen and bought a fried egg between two slices of toast.  As I was poised to take a bite, a colleague quipped, “What you got between that – fried egg? URRRGH!”  I rolled my eyes and ignored the comment.  Apparently the smell of a fried egg sends them into convulsions.

It’s not the first time I’ve had to stomach petty remarks over eating by this person.  I once brought in spicy chicken for lunch in a tupperware box, put it in fridge and whenever the door was opened, the air was filled with a whiff of spices, causing said person to contort their face and moan. 

I accept some people will only eat simple, often tasteless food as anything out of their comfort zone is too challenging.  It’s usually these spoilt-sports who out-vote the majority when it comes to picking a restaurant for the Christmas lunch because they refuse to eat anything but traditional British grub like a roast or sausages.

I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve had difficulty with picking appropriate food from a limited menu for others’ satisfaction.  My dietry requirements boil down to a hell of a lot more than how hot the food is.  I don’t eat pork or other derivatives from the origins of the animal such meat comes from for religious beliefs.  I can only eat meat that’s been slaughtered as halal but not to cause too much fuss, I am happy to choose a vegetarian or fish option. 

I like a huge variety of cuisines and am grateful to be living in a country which is richly diverse in bringing food from every country imaginable so I’d like to think I have a broad taste and usually I will find something I like.  Also I am grateful more businesses are catering for halal and vegetarian food and moving with the times so eating out has certainly become more enjoyable and exciting but while progress is being made in that respect, some people are still stuck in the dark ages, and their ignorance gets on my wick. 

I respect people who can’t stomach strong flavours for health reasons and although it can prove challenging, there are ways to get around the problem.  Sometimes I won’t be keen on a restaurant choice by a group of friends but if the majority are in favour, I won’t and never have dug my heels in.  I see this as an opportunity to socialise and catch-up so choice of restaurant takes secondary place.  I also understand it’s fair to allow the majority to rule.  That’s the point of a democracy, right?

I don’t complain my colleague brings in ham sandwiches and puts them in the fridge with my halal chicken.  I have a right to complain about that, don’t I?  It’s offensive to me that my lunch should share the same space as a ham sandwich but to be fair, the sandwich is wrapped up and there is no contact with my food so I keep the peace but not only that, I don’t taunt or make snide quips. 

I have no qualms if people want to stick to roast dinners and fish and chips on rotation, but kindly keep your trap shut when I want to have a stir-fry or a curry.  It’s rude to chew with your mouth open.

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