When it comes to food, I’ve always prided myself on being able to eat pretty much anything. I’m not a fussy diner. Place a plate of food in front of me and ten minutes later, possibly sooner as I’m a quick eater, it will be gone. I inherited that from my father, although Fionnuala has performed wonders with my table manners and eating habits in the years she has known me. I even chew my food now, before swallowing.
Yes, invite me to your home for dinner and you will not have to worry about special dietary requirements. Because I eat pretty much anything.
Er……apart from mussels. In fact, better make that most shellfish. And prawns. I don’t like prawns. I think it all harks back to an unfortunate afternoon spent eating fresh oysters in a bar in Dublin many years ago. Followed by two days of shivering uncontrollably in bed, drenched in a clammy sweat. Although that might possibly have had something to do with the eight pints of Guinness which accompanied the oysters.
But apart from that, I’m good.
Oh beetroot, I forgot beetroot. Horrible, slimy, yucky, purple beetroot. Which no matter how hard I try contaminates my otherwise perfect restaurant salad, it’s juices infiltrating every mouthful. Why did God invent beetroot? It serves no practical purpose other than to irritate me. Right up there with wasps. Don’t get me started on wasps. They don’t even produce honey. They just sting you and then die.
Olives. I can’t stomach olives. We sometimes have breakfast in the office where everyone chips in a few pounds and ‘Fast’ Eddie dishes up bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, tomatoes….and olives. I think he’s trying to impress us all but I’m not having it. They resemble alien eyeballs and I sure ain’t putting one in my mouth. They should stick to floating about in fancy dan cocktails. Not on my breakfast platter.
Brussel sprouts. The most pointless addition to the long list of Christmas traditions which will be descending on chez Black from 1st November onwards. Fionnuala is already checking out the Christmas movie channel. I am a reasonable man. It takes a lot to get me wound up. I rarely lose my temper. But the sight of a brussel sprout nestling amidst my Christmas dinner might just be the straw that broke the camels back.
Hmmmmm. This self inventory isn’t going so well is it? And that’s just the subject of food. What else do I dislike? If I sat down and took a long, hard look at my prejudices what would I unearth? On other people, their beliefs, values and morals? Their faith, culture and social norms? Am I as open minded and liberal as I like to think I am. Are any of us? For once you start to scratch beneath the surface, all sorts of nasty surprises are revealed.
Often the person we portray to the world bears no resemblance to the one we face in the mirror every morning. We slip on a mask before we open the front door and face a new day. We put on an act as we worry what others would think, if they knew the real us. Would they be disappointed, embarrassed, angry? Some of us don’t even know the real ourselves as we bury the truth beneath layers of denial and self loathing.
Be you. Recognise your flaws. Embrace them. And then, where possible, take steps to eradicate or minimise them the best you can. Because nobody is perfect, nor does anybody expect perfect. Pretending to be somebody you are not is a bit like pretending to like a food you actually despise. It’s not big, it’s not clever and it doesn’t impress anyone. Food poisoning is bad enough. But poisoning your mind and soul could have much more far reaching consequences.
Which foods can you not stomach?
Are you true to yourself and the watching world?
How often do you reflect upon your beliefs and values? Are you more prejudiced than you first thought?
Black Thoughts 
I can eat pretty much a lot of things without a fuss but just feels uncomfortable eating a hamburger in front of semi strangers
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I’m intrigued. What is a ‘semi stranger?’
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hahahaha It’s a term I use for people who I know do exist but haven’t reached on a friendly point with.
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I think I’ll steal that phrase from you 😂
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hahah now you don’t have to steal it, but can use it and just give me credit for creating this term lol
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Deal 👍🏻
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I’m the worst fussy eater. But if I have something I like I’m fairly quick even when I try to slow down lol
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I’m the same. Now you see it, now you don’t 😁
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I’m a picky eater. I’m on both sides about myself in the world. Most times, I don’t care what others think, I just show up. While other times, deep in the back of my mind I don’t want others to see the real me. So criticizes, eye stares, and opinions can get the best of me, I’m human, what can I say. But more often I have to remind myself, God approves me, so I don’t need to worry about what others really think. Unless it seeks to advance me towards my destiny.
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Very wise words indeed. Thank you for sharing them.
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👍🏼
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You and I would get along just fine. I love the foods you don’t like and therefore I would always get your portion of olives, brussels sprouts, clams, shrimp. Do you like fried calf’s liver with onions? mmm-mmmm
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I think I’d be okay with the liver & onions. We can tag team at meal times 😂
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There shall be NO: liver, tongue, other offal, goose, okra, Brussels sprouts or red pimento in this household. If I wanted slime or grit, I could lick pavement. Spice is acceptable, searing pain is not; ergo not everything must be “chlile” flavored. Salt compliments flavor, it should not BE the flavor. Yep – I’m fussy.
I try to be observing myself from the outside as well as the inside (sounds utter bonkers) so that I don’t catch myself being hypocritical. When those “hidden” prejudices or biases start running the show, I’ve lost control. For and OCD person like me, that’s a really difficult thing to wrestle with. I feel like I’m on top of it most of the time, though.
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Some hardcore food commandments there Liz 😂
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I love everything but I don’t eat junk food at all. I do have a fondness for “healthy” snacks like pretzels & nuts but I hate stuff like Doritoes … I won’t touch a Dorito. Like you with shellfish (which I adore), my aversion to Doritoes includes too many beers … Genny Cream-Ale, to be exact … I haven’t touched that stuff in almost 40 years now, either. I remember my puke … it was FLORESCENT ORANGE. Why I didn’t get sober right then & there I don’t know … but I was just a kid.
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I eat very quickly, all that military training! I’m not fussy, although I don’t care for olives, and I have a nasty food sensitivity to walnuts so I do avoid those at all costs. You couldn’t pay me to eat liver…
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An army marches on its stomach right?
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You’re hilarious. As to your post, I really don’t think one ought to eat people -no matter how inclusive he strives to be.
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In my mind, the most Christian thing would be to at least eat a plant-based diet..
A post I wrote on the subject (over a year ago). It is pretty in-depth, maybe more of an expository article or essay than a blog. But still, here it is:
http://bkh.me/2017/02/26/is-the-bible-vegan-a-somewhat-fishy-subject
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Thank you very much for sharing your link. Interesting stuff.
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Living means eating. Eating means survival. Survival means ack never mind. 😂😂😂😂😂
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I think I get your drift 😂
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I’ve just been for afternoon tea with a girlfriend. As a gluten free, vegetarian who doesn’t like onions 😱 I had to send my food back three times. 😂 Now that’s fussy. But surely not hard to get right?!!!! I agree with all your food hates. 🤮
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I’m sure the table and kitchen staff really appreciated your feedback and comments throughout the afternoon 😂
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How hard is it people?!!! No onions, no gluten and nothing that has been living!! It worked out ok though, we got free Prosseco! 🙌🏻
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I am gluten free and excessively picky!! But…I do love me some brussel sprouts!! 😄
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No! That’s a step too far Tammy! 🤢
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I’m a very picky eater and everyone that knows me knows it, lol! I’m one of those people who wants to know every ingredient in an item before I order it. I call myself annoying when it comes to eating. But hey, I like what I like and I only eat what I like! The list you gave I am right there with you, lol! I try to always be true to myself. I am very bold and I have no issue with speaking out. You should read my latest blog! Thanks for this post 😄😄
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Thank you. I’ll be sure to check it out 😊
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I, like you, am not a fussy eater. I’ll eat just about anything except mussels, Brussel sprouts, olives (green or black), clams and okra. It’s a short list, right?
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A short list but I agree with everything on it.
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I’ve never tried a brussel sprouts or beetroot so I’m going to have to take your word for it lol. I despise olives. I love most fish but I hate anything with a slimy texture. It causes instant gagging for me. Other then that I am pretty open to trying most things.
It’s funny you mention values as I have been re-evaluating mine lately and I’m not so sure it’s such a nice exploration. I tend to be pretty accepting and forgiving of others but I am a total jerk to myself and I think it’s time to stop that but I don’t know how.
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I think recognition is the first step in the process. We are often too hard on ourselves.
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You start off with food but your last line is the real crux of this piece. I love you sneak in those tidbits of wisdom amongst the beetroot and brussel sprouts!
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Thank you very much 😊
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Smart piece, Stephen. And so funny. And so true. I’m not picky but I am too. I’m kind but I am not. I am respectful when I am really judging all the time. So true. And as you say the key is to look yourself in your eyes and acknowledge that.
I won’t say how I fussy I am about food because that’d confuse even a dietician. 🙂
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Thank you. I’ve been reading your blogs of late. Searing honesty but you are making progress, believe me. I don’t always comment because sometimes I haven’t any words.
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🙂 thank you for reading it. Means a lot to me.
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Btw I’ve started running. You have really inspired me there with your blogs. One day I’ll run that marathon too.
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That’s amazing! Of course you will. I’m rooting for you.
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Lo-ove Brussel sprouts. Ha-ate fiddleheads (a big “yukko”)!
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🤢
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Haha, as soon as I was reading I was like is brussel sprouts on the list? And sure enough…haha xD ! I actually like them, but I do understand why others do not, and the scent itself is unpleasant. I feel so bad for my apartment complex when I made them! But they are healthy and fairly cheap for me to make…WHY NATURE!
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🤢🤢🤢
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