the secret language of food and a simpering need for approval

[rm]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/fashion/09STEAK.html
Is the life of a woman really such constant mandatory neurosis even if that neurosis is about not seeming neurotic?

“Everyone wants to be the girl who drinks the beer and eats the steak and looks like Kate Hudson,” Ms. Crosley, 28, said.

Actually, no, everyone isn't. And then there's this:

Of course, there are always those rare women who order what they want and to heck with what a man might think.

Saehee Hwang, 30, a production director at Artnet.com, found herself out with friends at DuMont restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, when she started feeling attracted to a new guy in the group. She said she had wanted to order a burger, but started having second thoughts. “I didn’t want to appear too much of a carnivore,” she said. “It might be off-putting.”

But then she decided she should not change her order to fit a preconceived idea of what a man might want. She ordered the house specialty, a half-pound of beef on a toasted brioche bun with Gruyère cheese. “We started dating afterward,” Ms. Hwang said. “And he told me he liked the fact that I ordered the burger.”

I mean, really, did you know you were buying your freedom with every second of every day you actually choose to do something for yourself? How shocking!

Comments

[kiji-kat.livejournal.com]

I'll admit that I've fallen into the trap of eating differently because it might be "off-putting" to members of the opposite sex. Fortunately, I'm getting better about eating food because I want to, not because I think it's more acceptable. My emphasis on eating healthier these days is now done for the right reasons - because I can't take a lot of heavy, greasy and/or sugary foods anymore (it makes me feel sluggish and crappy) and because I really do feel better when I have lighter fare.

That said, I may have to go to Quizno's for lunch today. I feel like a toasted sammich. ;)

[fragiletender.livejournal.com]

I'm the same with heavy food - it just makes me sleepy and then I'm no good for anything. It upsets my digestive system too so I try to avoid it, although I'm not as good at staying off sugar even through I know that my health is a lot better when I do. It's tough though because sugar is so damn addictive.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

Wow, Internet fame, my icons are a-spreading!

[fragiletender.livejournal.com]

*waves at fellow sufferer*

Oh, fantastic, I'm very pleased to find out who made this. I've credited you in my userpics section if that's OK.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

Quite all right - credit is nice, but I'm just glad to see it used. Although slightly bewildered at first because I was fairly certain I hadn't used it to post here, and most of my fellow sufferers from cfids_me don't hang out here. I didn't *think* I was that brainfogged today!