My sister has gone through a number of different diet schemes over the years. First she was a vegetarian. Then she shifted to vegan (but missed cheese too much to go on). Then for a while, during some really lean times, she was a freegan, eating anything that she didn't have to pay for. These days, she distills her eating principle down to the basic phrase, "I don't eat things where the female of the species carries its young in a uterus." This means beef is out, but poultry is in.
I'm sure that there are lots of you out there who have equally quirky and specific dietary guiding principles and Michael Pollan, the man who coined the phrase "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." wants to know what they are. On Monday, he put a call out on New York Time's Well blog, soliciting these food mottos from readers. He's looking for something that is both poetic and appropriate.
So what's yours?
3-11-2009 @9:40AM Julie said... This probably sounds silly but in regards to food I have always said; " I like any food that doesn't bite me back while eating it". This trend for eating things while they are still alive is where I have to draw the line.
http://noshtalgia.blogspot.com/
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3-11-2009 @10:10AM christopher said... I would take the buddhist approach: "just eat"
I tried them all and no longer put much stock in cleverly crafting a saying or label that lets me eat the things I want and still feel righteous. We do try to only eat plants, animals, and others that lived good lives and died respectfully (by my compass that puts foie gras back in) but I don't think that deserves a label. We also eat the whole beast (broccoli stems to prairie oysters to trotters). We wholly avoid factory farmed animals dubbed torture pigs and murderburger, (nothing good for chickens yet...).
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3-11-2009 @10:55AM Gobo said... Perhaps something like "eat mindfully".
Years as a vegetarian/vegan have taught me that the important thing isn't avoiding meat or dairy products, it's being mindful of what you put in your body. Knowing what's best for you, personally, as well as what's best for the animal and the community. That sounds like a lot of guilt, but in practice it's just being smart and knowledgeable about your food. When you don't know what you're eating, that's bad.
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3-11-2009 @11:22AM Rt said... For us gourmands: "If some is good, more is better, and too much is just right!"
"You cook it and I'll try it."
Perhaps: "I love all God's creatures, especially with two sides and some good bread." (alternately with gravy, etc.)
For bbq lovers: "I never met a grilled animal I didn't like."
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3-11-2009 @1:48PM FullOn said... My motto is...
Bacon, butter and salt. Keep adding all three to a dish until it tastes good.
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3-11-2009 @4:52PM Rob O. said... I always liked Bill Cosby's take when asked about eating brains, "I can't eat nothing that someone's been thinking with."
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3-11-2009 @6:29PM rckymtnski said... "Opportunitarian"..I will eat whatever someone offers me (ie not turn down meat, etc while dining in someone else's home, enjoy whatever is prepared at social functions) while limiting purchases of meat at my home to those that have been treated humanely.
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3-11-2009 @6:23PM Chef JoAnna said... "I like it when as many farm animals as possible make an appearance on my plate."
"I prefer Sushi when it's on a hook, used to catch other fish i can cook and eat."
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3-13-2009 @10:31AM ErinV said... "Equal parts moderation, appreciation, and indulgence"
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3-12-2009 @1:51AM Megan said... It's not poetic, but my food motto has always been "It's better to order something new and end up not liking it than to always order the same thing and wonder what you've missed."
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3-12-2009 @8:32PM Meg said... Um, a vegetarian with a weakness for NC BBQ?
If I eat meat, I prefer to eat shellfish or fish.
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3-13-2009 @4:30AM Francis Ocoma said... I am reminded of the first episode of The Big Bang Theory, when Penny said "I'm a vegetarian, except for the occasional steak. I *love* steak!" :P
Oh, my food motto? It's the same motto for everything else: "Strictly follow a few rules, then be as adventurous as those rules will allow."
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3-16-2009 @2:13PM katie said... my husband's motto is "I never eat anything that's smarter than me in its natural environment" - aka, no octopus, etc.
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3-17-2009 @5:35PM Wendy said... Food is life and life is meant to be enjoyed!
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3-17-2009 @5:37PM Wendy said... Food is life and life is meant to be enjoyed!
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5-22-2009 @9:49AM lynne said... Most basic rule is "eat colors found in nature"......no flourescent food for plants or people.
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