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Confession- I used to be a cheese snob. Blue goat's cheese, Cornish yarg, real Roquefort, dulse-spiked cheddar. Unfortunately it's off the menu, even if I wasn't vegan, because I finally got my milk allergy test done, and it was positive. This makes sense, because I had a Starbuck's milk poisoning a while back, a few sips of what was supposed to be a soy misto, and I thought I was getting the cold.
There's nothing like IBS and pancreatitis to kill your desire to eat. And yet I love food, or at least I did, and I want to get that back. Noticing my neglected cookbooks on the shelf when I was packing my Floradix, brown rice miso, rice and nori to stay at my parent's for the weekend, I thought, what? I realised I have stopped eating food because I love it, and more because it won't give me pain. Granted, I still eat hummus and dark chocolate, and all manner of fruit and vegetables. But something must have gone wrong when I opened the miso jar (I hate the smell) instead of a Nigel Slater cookbook. So along with all my socially exclusive foods, I packed six of my favourite cookbooks. I mightn't make anything, although I brought them to find something to make for my mum, as it's her birthday today. However, I reckoned I definitely needed a break from poring over nutrition books. I need to let the foodie out, and begin to enjoy eating again. I'm sick of functional eating, because no-one wants to join in, it's lonely. And that only stresses me out more. I know I posted an IBS management strategy this week, but I'm beginning to wonder if switching the emphasis to enjoyment might help (getting plenty of fluids, exercise and taking a probiotic won't interfere with that I think). It's high time I started reading my cookbooks, making tasty winter dishes in my Le Creuset, baking cakes and visiting my local farmer's market more often- even if that means catching myself looking longingly at the cheese stall...
High-five for that! I've found myself falling into the same mindset too- thinking of food as functional rather than as pleasurable also. I'm trying to find the balance. I've cut out my beloved cheese for the millionth time and am feeling a little better for it, which is good but a shame as, like you, i'm a cheese snob.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great weekend pouring over foodie books. I'm loving Nigella's programme on BBC 2 and Jamie's 30 suppers at the mo- defo helping to resurrect the foodie in me. xxx
It's such an easy trap to fall into, but I bet if I enjoyed my food more my IBS might ease off a bit because I'd be happier. I haven't had cheese since last Christmas, I bought a huge cheese spread from a local cheese shop for my family's Christmas brunch. I have very fond memories of that meal! Even though I feel morally uncomfortable about cheese eating, I do have a lot of respect for traditional cheesemakers, it's a great skill.
ReplyDeleteI have been watching bits of Nigella too- I thought that clip at the end where she poached cream or something from the fridge in her nightwear and sandwiched it in a Bourbon cream! That lady sure loves her food. I'm a big Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall fan, I own most of his books (not the meat handbook, obviously!). I'm enjoying the series for River Cottage Everday at the moment. Hope you have a lovely weekend too:)