Let's Talk Food

Those of you that know me fairly well would probably say that I am a pretty picky eater. As a child (and by child I mean 18) I was known for my white plate at Thanksgiving - turkey, potatoes and bread. Over the last couple years I have learned to venture out, and I have been surprised by many foods that I have come to love. As I embarked on this journey I told myself that I would keep an open mind to food and would try anything at least once.

With this being said....

If I was a diabetic I would be in a coma right now, but my digestive system would be the healthiest it's ever been, and I surely would never fear another yeast infection (not that I've ever had one...).

Let me explain: I mentioned earlier that the French love chocolate for breakfast. And this still holds true. But I have taken to forego the chocolate for breakfast and just hold off for the brioche with Nutella for a mid day snack. In turn, my breakfast consists of toast with an assortment of jams, some english breakfast tea, and the occassional bowl of musilx that only has a few choice chocolate chips.

So what I haven't mentioned yet is that the french love SUGAR. Heaps and heaps of sugar. I have watched one by one each of the Sevettes pour mounds of sugar into their yogart. And let me tell you that we have yogart with every meal. Both lunch and dinner is followed by yogart - in as many varities as you could ever imagine.

The lactose intolerant would have no place in this home.

But, to move on from the sweets and to the part about how I said I would eat anything at least once while on this trip, let me tell you that tonight I ate a whole artichoke. When you go to the fresh foods section of the grocer and there are whole artichokes with all the leaves, that is what I ate. When asked if I wanted artichoke I said "sure, i've never had it prepared this way, I'l try it",but I did not expect to have the whole thing placed on my plate for only me to eat. But it was, and I ate it all. Wasnt too bad, but in the future I think I will share with others at the table.

To add to my list of things I have tried for the first time while being here:

Snails,
Beets,
mushrooms on pizza,
So many cheeses that I could never even begin to name them all, but most stink to high heaven,
and although I hate to admit it, I have eaten a variety of fruits.

Yes, fruit. When faced with the grocer at the open market handing me his homegrowon product that he was so proud of and telling me, in french, that he wanted me to taste it, and me not knowing how to politely tell him I dont eat fruit, I crumbled and ate it. I had a piece of orange, half a kiwi, and some mandarin oranges. And yes, I actually liked both the kiwi and the mandarin oranges.

Now, will I continue to eat all these things when I return back to the states, I dont know. I fear that they will not be as good as they are here and I don't want to taint the experience I had of them when I was in Fance.

But, I will continue to try things, and just pray that when I leave here that I will not go into sugar withdraw.

Disclaimer: please note that when I refer to "the french" I am pretty much referring to the Sevette's as they are my only source for this study.