“Diversity is a big deal for me,” says the privileged white American girl.
Despite my pearls of wisdom, I recognize my way is not the only way. This might come as a shock to those who’ve met my ego, yet it’s true. My methodology works wonders for me and probably looks completely different from yours, which makes magic happen for you.
The simple and easy truth is we can learn a crapton from others, especially those with differing belief systems. The only prerequisite is being open and kind. Once we let go of our defenses, we can hear and see different perspectives, entertain new ideas, allowing ourselves an opportunity to learn and grow.
As much as I hate to admit it, I don’t actually know everything. In fact, my sense of direction is shaky at best and I rely on the Hubby or Siri to steer me down the right path. Without their knowledge and “route recalculations,” I’d quite literally be lost. Now imagine the possibilities if I were to open my mind and heart to more than just the Hubby and my iPhone.
Can you believe all that just came out of an introvert? Yeah, me neither.
In any event, you’re probably wondering what any of this has to do with What I Ate Wednesday. It’s a valid question to be sure. The simple truth is sharing a day of food is not nearly as earth shattering as loving your neighbor, regardless of their color, sexuality, or religious beliefs. It is a small and simple step though, seeing the way other people eat. It brings new ideas to the table, allowing us to learn a little sumthin, sumthin.
On that altogether too serious note, minus the sumthin, sumthin, I’m sharing my edibles from yesterday along with a little lesson for each morsel.
And away we go.
First Breakfast: a fruit filled smoothie with spinach, flax powder and bee pollen. Orange juice was added post picture.
Lesson: Bee pollen should only be consumed by way of something else because the taste is horrific on its own.
Second Breakfast: two pieces of English Muffin Bread Toast with butter.
Lesson: sometimes simple really is best.
Lunch: an apple with peanut butter and a couple of fistfuls of unsalted sunflower seeds.
Lesson: it pays to keep snacks, a small cutting board and a knife at the office, especially on the days you get too busy to heat up the pasta lunch you actually brought.
Dinner: Potato Ramp Soup, a Spinach Salad with fruit, walnuts and blue cheese and Roasted Tomatoes with olive oil, garlic, basil and Asiago. I downed it all with a Habanero Mango Hard Cider.
Lesson: sometimes an alcoholic beverage is necessary after a trying eleven hour work day.
One for the Road: natural lighting works wonders for food photos. Say hello to my driveway, a stunning specimen to be sure.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some What I Ate Wednesday posts to read. I want to see what knowledge I can glean from you.
What have you gained by opening yourself up to others with differing belief systems than your own?
But that last picture, Meg…I just can’t even- GORGEOUS! I feel likee realising that you don’t know EVERYTHING is one of the biggest difficulties for each one of us, but when we open ourselves to the opinion of others, amazing things start to happen! Sorry to be a buzzkill but I’m all for nipping the “My way or the highway” cliche in the bud!!!
Khushboo recently posted…Homemade nut butter
I agree. Let’s nip that phrase in the bud immediately.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
Second the natural light, as I just took a picture of my breakfast 🙂 That dinner is too much, the tomatoes are killing me! Your food couldn’t look any better, for sure!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma recently posted…WIAW – Race Day Eats
And to answer the question I’ve found as tough as it is to TRULY be open minded (I used to say/think I was but wasn’t) that’s when you really start to learn and actually form educated opinions I think, rather than just regurgitating what you’ve read/heard. Tough and eye opening, I also hate being wrong 😉
Michele @ paleorunningmomma recently posted…WIAW – Race Day Eats
Yep, being wrong is rough. I’ll be the first to agree there, although you cannot improve unless you recognize there’s room to. We’re all works in progress.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
That’s such a good question! I would say it’s made me a whole lot more patient. I lived in London for six years and it’s impossible to walk down the street without running into people from every spot in the world. Understanding how different people are helps you see that you’re not right about everything and it’s easier to get along with all types of people. That being said, the irony here in Dayton is that I find myself being frustrated a lot with all the people around me who are like, “This is my life and how I think, and I’m never going to change because this is how it’s always been. The end.” It’s kind of difficult for me to understand how people DON’T want to understand different ways of life … which is funny because it’s all ironic and stuff. 😉
I just walk around with a public banana and do my own thing down here!
Sara recently posted…13.1
People get set in their ways and they’re comfortable staying there. For me though, that’s just stagnant. You gotta open up, learn and live.
Also, amen to opening Dayton up to public bananas!!
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
I sometimes feel uncomfortable talking about perspective as another *privileged white girl* but then again, it’s so important to embrace diversity – should we let it matter?
Alyssa @ Renaissancerunnergirl recently posted…WIAW #10: Food and Precious Free Time
I think it’s even more important for us privileged white girls to listen, to learn and then share our new knowledge. We can be a platform for change.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
Haha I haven’t done the bee pollen thing for awhile, but I used to add it to little energy bites (with dates and coconut, etc.) You’re right though, on it’s own it’s pretty horrid haha
Yep, bee pollen is tough to swallow, literally. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
I love your mini cutting board! There were more than a few days I wish I had one when I worked in an office!!
Morgan @ Managing Mommyhood recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday, Baby and Me
Cutting boards at work are sooo handy. I’d be lost without mine.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
Your second breakfast reminds me of one of my favourite snacks as a kid… plain buttered toast smeared in honey. So simple, so good. And the same goes for simple bowls of oats made with milk and brown sugar. Sometimes it’s nice to be able to taste all the subtle flavours. And I was just happy dancing this morning about how I can actually take pictures of my breakfast in natural light these days. It’s nice to wake up and not have it be dark for the next 5 hours…
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…. chocolate chip cookie dough bars .
I love being able to photograph my dinner again since it’s still dark when I usually get up. The plus side is I watch the sunrise most mornings.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
What have you gained by opening yourself up to others with differing belief systems than your own?
Wow what a good question. I guess I’ve gained a better sense of understanding. I typically have my beliefs and are firm in my beliefs and don’t always see other people’s ways. But opening myself up helps me to be more understanding – not only about their beliefs but also understanding in general. And it’s not always easy. It’s often uncomfortable, but that can be good for me!
And your food, as always, looks so so so good. Thanks for inspiring me:)
Melissa recently posted…WIAW #14 : Salty OR Sweet?
Aw thanks for the lovely comment and I’m tickled pink to be a source of inspiration. You’re making me blush.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
I’m not a drinker, but that cider sounds AMAZING! I just love the flavor profile of it. As always we agree on the bee pollen, and I still have a hefty jar of it sitting in my kitchen. Perhaps it’s time for me to hide some in smoothies again.
Brittany recently posted…Facts
So this past weekend when I was at Blend, the Hubby made his own smoothie: Chocolate Peanut Butter from my recipe on blog. He told me he added bee pollen even though it wasn’t in the recipe. Now that’s impressive.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
Your photos are so gorgeous! The colors and lighting is so vibrant. I have a few campari tomatoes to use up before leaving for Blend. Might just have to try roasting them up tonight. Thanks for the idea. See you in a few days 🙂
Kate @ Kate Lives Healthy recently posted…WIAW #47
Thanks for the compliment Kate. I appreciate it, and I hope you managed to use up those tomatoes. I still have three left here, and I’m thinking some kind of easy and raw pasta sauce with kalamata olives, garlic and feta.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
See, this is just one of the many reasons why I love you, that you can tie food in with your worldview. But you really do have a point. Food brings people together, like, didn’t Jesus eat a big meal with his besties right before he gave up his life? And the kitchens in Sikh temples are constantly pumping out snacks… for EVERYone regardless of what colour, race, religion walks through those doors. It’s the way it’s supposed to be: gather, and eat. And love grows from there.
Suzy recently posted…Woozy Wednesday: Alive Party
I love how you see this too. Food is definitely used as a means to connect and has been for centuries.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
I’ve given up entirely on bee pollen. I don’t care how healthy it is… I can’t choke it down. #TWSS
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Nobu Vegas & a Margarita Dinner [WIAW]
I’m not even sure the bee pollen makes me any healthier either. I got really sick once this year, which is the exact same amount as the past two years so no improvements there. Bah, silly bee pollen.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
Bee pollen? I’ve never heard of that before, but I am intrigued! Have you don a post on it in the past? Love WIAW for the exact reason you mentioned: “It brings new ideas to the table” (quite literally). I love seeing all the ethnic food people eat and it definitely gives me the motivation to be more courageous in the kitchen!
Christine@ Apple of My Eye recently posted…Paisley Print Halter Maxi Dress
I’ve linked to bee pollen before here: http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/10-amazing-health-benefits-of-bee-pollen
Although I personally don’t feel any healthier or differently since taking it. I think it’s suppose to be really good for folks with allergies. Since I don’t have any, I can’t really validate this claim.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
I used to have that blender! And you dinner looks gourmet!!
Faith VanderMolen recently posted…WIAW: The Best and Worst Day
Aww why thank you. It’s really the outdoor lightning and the pretty Polish pottery. It’s amazing what those two things can do.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
I love that you brought up such a deep question today- food and our perspectives are often linked. I have gone through many different “phases” with my eating habits- vegetarian, low fat, low carb, paleo, and each time I learn more about other peoples philosophies on living and eating. There really is no right way of doing anything- just what is right for you.
From one introvert to another.
Heather@hungryforbalance recently posted…WIAW 5/13
When it comes to food, I toss all dietary claims out the window and eat what works best for me, which is an emphasis on whole foods.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
Hi! Your eats look delicious – especially all of those bright, beautiful fruit & veggies. I’m with you, I thoroughly enjoy learning about the ways that other people think and things they believe that differ from mine. The world’s a diverse place, and there’s so much opportunity to be open and try to understand different viewpoints. There’s nothing worse than close-minded people that think their way is the only way!
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness recently posted…DietBet Week 3 Recap + 5 Ways to Drink More H20
Preach!! I love it.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
Ah, good old-fashioned mind expansion is always good for us Type As. I can often get in a one-track mindset where it’s my way or the highway, and it doesn’t even occur to me that there’s more than one way of doing it. This often comes into play when it comes to planning things (me) vs. winging it (le boyfriend). It’s almost as if some middle ground exists where no one is right or wrong, just different! Who knew! (PS I am still trying to internalize this lesson)
It’s always a learning process for me too. As a type A, we can get a little stubborn and by little I mean, over the top bull headed. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
i love your posts and always learn something from them. especially since i basically have had some different experiences in life but that’s the beauty. it’s like you said, we can learn so much through our bites, plates, bowls, etc.
i felt like i was born with a giant D on my forhead, for ‘diverse’. living in a household where an 88 year old chainsmoking 4 ft. tall chinese lady dried her own fish on a clothes line made of pink yarn, along with her hand-made tablecloth underwear, well that was interesting. now trying to invite the white kids to come have dinner at our house, now that drying fish didn’t have a lot of selling points.
i digress.
your eats look amazing as usual, i would be joyful at each meal (minus the 11 hour work day eek!) and yes simple is wonderful. however, i have found i love mixing bee pollen with coconut oil; it turns into a weird butterscotch of sorts and goes wonderfully on ice cream. but i had to use an X-rated amount of pollen and oil…
if you’re ever in the lonestar state, i invite you to spend a day/night/weekend/fortnight with us. you will be submersed face-first into some weird, diverse, funky flavor-filled fun. i always keep extra bananas so you won’t feel out of the water. just sayin, ya’ll always got a room in H-town and diversity is my specialty, so giddyup buttercup!
I’d love to come see you sometime, especially if bananas are involved. 🙂
Your house growing up sounds absolutely fascinating. Forget blogging (not really) you need to write a book.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
hahaha! that’s funny, yes a book titled, “dried fish and granny’s underwear… the house of smells” LOL save yourselves
danielle recently posted…Training Slump
I can’t wait to see you oh so soon again! Like this weekend!
Your eats look amazing and I wish I could get mine to look so cookbook esque…maybe one day.
Also to answer the question…http://www.jimgaffigan.com My husband and I were watching this last night because well he loves this comedian and wanted to see what the show was all about….turns out it is pretty awesome and the first episode goes right along with your question…I wish also that I could eat like you everyday, I have way to bad of a sweet tooth…how do you do it?!?!?
Jayne recently posted…Happy Mothers Day.
I love sweets too, especially you.
In all seriousness I don’t know how I do it. I eat lots of fruit and things I love which probably helps. I don’t often keep sweets in the house though (like ice cream, candies, etc). I find I get plenty either by going out or trying something here or there that it keeps me satiated without consuming them daily.
With that being said, a certain box of white chocolate toffee I picked up at Blend is calling my name. 😉
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
I found that opening up has allowed us both to gain from different viewpoints and we both have changed certain aspects of our lives for the better as a result. I’m not more open to enjoying food I never thought I would before and love it!
Your hard cider is something I’ve never seen before and now I MUST give it a try. Now…how to get it in Texas…
Enjoyed the deep thoughts and completely agree with you. Also agree that sometimes simple is just better! Have a great rest of the week!
RC @ Going Dad recently posted…WIAW #11: No-Bake Mini NuttZo Pumpkin Cake
Thanks and I appreciate you sharing this post. It’s amazing when we’re open, how much we can learn from one another. 🙂
Yes, you should seek out the hard cider. It was sweet, light and extra fizzy with a hint of background heat.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
I consider myself to be open to anything. And I think diversity is a great chance and I try to embrace it whenever possible. Working in the field of diversity managememt I have some natural exposure to the topic at least work-wise. But I’ve also experienced that lerning from other people’s perspective is only possible when both are willing to discuss open minded and allow other perspectives. When you try to embrace diversity and the other tries to teach you his or her way is the only this doesn’t work.
From WIAW I always get new inspiration find new interesting people and that’s what I love. If everyone was just like me this would be a boring world.
You are absolutely right about that. Growth and learning from one another needs to be a two way street or you’re going end up at a dead end.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
You know what, I’ll admit that I’m more than a little stubborn and I sometimes have trouble accepting different viewpoints (especially anything that doesn’t align with my more scientific viewpoint). I always ask questions to try to understand, but sometimes ultimately I just agree to disagree with others. I like to think I’m open minded in some aspects though – I embrace and learn so much from my friends from different countries, cultures, sexualities, education backgrounds, etc. But I know I could certainly work on being more open minded in other ways!
Simple really is best when you’re talking about toast with butter. And English muffin toast? That sounds amazing!
Chelsea @ Chelsea’s Healthy Kitchen recently posted…Sunbutter Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
I can understand being stubborn, a little too well. What I would say is listening to others and learning from them doesn’t have to mean you agree with them. It’s getting their perspective is all.
English Muffin Toast is AH-MAZING. The best!
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
im jealous of whatever your doing right now (unless your on a plane)
I hope A does what I told her to.
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Vegan Recipes to Impress a Carnivore Part 2
Hmmm, I can’t think of A doing anything crazy. She must not have listened to you. Silly girl.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition
That’s some great food for thought…. 😉
But seriously, I agree that we all have our own way of eating, and rather than trying to get others to eat the way we eat, we should find common ground. I also agree that it’s safe to say we don’t know what we don’t know, and the our knowledge is always increasing, always expanding, but this is always due to self-lead research or positive encouragement from others. Converting someone to a new way of eating through heated debate will never work, and will add fuel to an already huge fire of doubt. I see this all the time in the paleo/primal vs. vegetarian/vegan debates, of which I used to partcipate. Then I realised, what’s the point? And besides, both diets involve eating lots of vegetables at every meal, and paleo baked treats are often vegan too – already common ground.
Your dinner looks amazing by the way, especially those tomatoes!
Thanks so much. I threw the tomatoes together on a whim because I needed to eat them fast before going out of town. Ha!
I stay out of the great food debates because I don’t think my opinion is going to do a damn thing to change yours and vice versa. Plus at the end of the day, you just need to do what’s right for you.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The Blend Edition