Strange Foodstuffs

[phineus]

Please, everyone, take 10-20 minutes to respond to this, I'd really appreciate it! It's a little survey about "weird food." I've left this post public, and I encourage anyone and everyone who stumbles across it to respond (or to pass on the link!). I've left anonymous commenting open as well

Comments

[aidosaur]

1a.) Are there any foodstuffs that are personally taboo to you; things you will not eat?
I generally try not to eat carnivorous animals. It's based on a feeling of evolutionary superiority; if an animal eats plants, they're just asking to be at the bottom of a food pyramid. This is a loose moral standing, I'll still eat eel, I've eaten shark and alligator, I'd eat snake or bear (omnivorous but still--) if it was put in front of me. I try to avoid eating octopus, out of fondness and a distaste for the texture. The opportunity has never come up, but I'd probably eat larvae/crickets if they were prepared well

[aidosaur]

Ahahaha, I'm surprised you weren't freaked out by looking up balut! Tripe is just the stomach, balut is the whole duck embryo! XD

[cortezopossum]

1a.) I've been trying to avoid corn syrup as of late and things with excess sugar. This includes just about all non-diet soft drinks. I find it surprising it's also in a lot of bread as well, especially the cheaper brands. I've also limited my dairy intake of milk but will use other dairy products such as cheese, butter, whipped cream. I'm also trying to cut back on salt. -- These decisions are primarily for health reasons

[armaina]

1) a. I don't think I would eat any genitals or anything to do with the digestive tract. Reproductive organs just don't seem to be appetizing to me, and the digestive tract for sanitary reasons.. I worry about bacteria

[sapphire_heaven]

1a) I would be willing to try something once but I don't want to try anything with chopped up animal organs in it. I tried something with organs in it and I got mild food poisoning and simply can't eat it anymore

[xlagartixax]

Oh, food talk! Fun

[xlagartixax]

I forgot to brag about some of the other "weird" foods I've eaten any enjoyed:

Sea urchin, fried eel, raw oysters and scallops, snails, crickets, goat, rabbit, beef tripe, pork tongue, fish heads (eh, the eyeballs weren't great), fish eggs, emu, ostrich, beef marrow, alligator, duck cracklings (and foie gras, although I wouldn't consider it "weird" so much as "expensive"), buffalo, quail eggs, crab fat, and elk venison.

And for as long as I remember, I've always sucked the marrow out of chicken bones when I thought I could get away with it in polite company.

[xlagartixax]

Finally, an anecdote about being duped into trying something:

My older sister once cooked dinner for me and my family. I was about 4. I didn't like some of the rainbow pasta she served and would eat the lighter colors while leaving the dark green and brown ones on my plate. She bet me that I couldn't really taste the difference blindfolded, and to her surprise and embarrassment I correctly identified all 5 shades of noodle at the dinner table by taste alone.

That's the last time I remember anyone in my family trying to force me to eat something I didn't like.