Problems of a Non-Foodie

Alright, let me get straight into it.

WARNING: This is going to be a VERY VERY ranty post.

I'm not the most excited when it comes to the topic of food. I enjoy cooking and baking, that's for sure, but I when it comes to eating food, that's where my excitement comes to a standstill. I just don't think I'm very enticed by eating in general. My appetite is easily killed. Yes, I have cravings and yes I have my preferences. In fact, I'm a relatively picky eater. I don't like to eat a lot of things, mainly seafood and I sure as hell do not like raw fish.

I've so many friends who are absolute foodies. There are some who decide that I'm a complete weirdo and some accept that I just don't share their enthusiasm. Either way, I'm probably stepping on a lot of toes with this post and I need to say that I'm not ending any of my friendships (I love my friends, even if they think I'm the utmost killjoy) here - unless they cut me off lol, but I just really really need to let off some steam here because it's been something that's been stressing me out lately. If any of you reading this post can relate, you are not alone.

Also, I think I should mention that I DO NOT have any form of eating disorder, I get hungry and I eat my 3 meals a day. I don't know who else has these 'problems' and who is going to be able to relate to this post. But honestly, I'm at the point where the topics of food and eating irritates me because I've suddenly become 'socially awkward'. So, let me just point a few things and hopefully, someone out there will feel that they can relate to this post.

1. People constantly question you.

"Wah, how can you be Singaporean if you don't love food?!"

"How can you not love food?! You're so weird!"

"How are you not tempted when you watch all those cooking videos?!"

"But I love food!!! Omg how are we friends?!"

"Are you sick or what?"

"How can you smell that and not be tempted!?"

I'm Singaporean, born and bred. I don't constantly dream about food. I don't feel tempted by food porn. It doesn't always matter to me where my friends go for lunch or dinner because I'll eventually find something I don't mind eating. I can watch endless videos of Tasty, Sorted Food and Cupcake Jemma and still not feel the need to run to the kitchen. I just don't.

And if we can't be friends because you're a foodie and I'm not, then I'm sorry, I've people who actually bother to find some middle ground to care about. And no, not being enthusiastic about food doesn't mean I have an eating disorder. The smell of some food puts me off (I think that's universal, no?) and when I say something smells good, doens't mean I want to eat a whole lot of it.

It simply means: it smells good.

2. "Where/What do you want to eat?" makes you stressed out.

When you don't really care much about food, you get attached to places that you actually like to eat at, by that I mean you'de make the effort to get out of the house to eat there. For me, that list is pretty short. When people ask you where you want to eat, those few places pop up in your head and somewhere along the line, someone WILL ask "Seriously? Again?". 

Yes, seriously, again. 

3. People thinking you're socially inept. 

I think this one points back to point #1 as well. Because I'm picky, I don't usually end up liking half the things on any menu and when you eat with a group of people, you look like one heck of a weirdo. People will think you're on a diet, or people will think you're in a bad mood, or they'll think you don't like the food and they ask you why you agreed to go there in the first place. Thing is, you just simply don't feel like eating what's in front of you and that doens't matter to you. 

Additionally, I've never understood why people like to meet up over meals, when they can just simply find a place to chill at and talk. It's not like I mind meeting over a meal, but when I do, it feels like the priority of the meeting shifts. 

Let me explain; I'm not a supper person (AT ALL), and it drives me insane when people ask me out for supper, which I may I go for solely because I want to spend time with these people, and I get called out for not eating. 

"Why're you not eating? What did you come out for then?!"

Seriously? 

I came out to spend time with you. Not stuff my face. 

4. Your enthusiasm for traveling isn't as hyped. 

Half the time, people want to travel to try new foods. Personally, I'm not adventurous with food and I will only eat it when I know that I'm going to like it. So this leads to the next thing I'm about to say, which is: I don't care about how cheap or awesome the food is over there. 

I have food in my country and I have food at home. 

If I wanted to go wherever, I would say I'd like to go there. Traveling for food is not my thing. I'd rather go to the grocery store and buy ingredients to cook something that I know I'll like. I hate being forced to head somewhere because I 'need to try the food there'. I never felt the need to try new foods and when I say I want to go to a cafe or restaurant, usually it's because I want to experience the ambiance of the place. 

I won't be enticed to go somewhere just because there's legendary food there. It just doesn't make sense to me and it also irritates me to no end when people don't understand that you can't tempt/lure me into going somewhere with the idea of food. I think this is something I struggle with the most and this is probably the thing that irritates me the most. Half the time I wouldn't want to travel to the other end of the island just to try something that everyone has been going crazy about. 

I also hate being forced against my own will to do things or go to places, so seriously, what makes you think I'd go somewhere because of the food? You've got to be kidding me. 

5. "Free Food!" is nothing special to you. 

"Omg! Who doesn't like free food?!" 

I didn't say I didn't like it. I just don't get excited about it. There's a difference.

Free food, yeah sure, free is always good, but I don't understand the idea of going for an event just because there is free food. And the typical "free food, just eat la!" doesn't make any sense to me either. It really doesn't. I have friends who do that, and I'm fine with it, just don't expect me to get as excited as you are. Because I will not be as excited as you are. 

Waving food that I refuse to eat in front of me isn't going to make me eat it. Putting food that I know I won't eat onto my plate isn't going to make me eat it. You're just wasting food. Stop it. 

Anyway, I know it's a very very wordy and ranty post but like I said, it's my opinion and I think I need to address this nagging problem as well because I'm pretty sure (or I'm desperately hoping) that I'm not the only one who doesn't get excited about food. Till my next blogpost!



xx
Shayne