FOOD!!!

[slim 1,525]

My wife was curious and told me to post this new thread.

How many of you out there have now changed your diet since your wife (husband) has arrived in the U.S. and you're now living together?

I'm a pizza/hamburgers/coca-cola/beer kind of guy and haven't touched vegetables since my mom made me "eat three bites and you can be excused." But now, my wife's on me to "not eat such $#!TTY food." She' mixing in all types of green stuff and carrots and even some eggplant in my meat and potatoes. Have you're spouses done anything similar?

I know we touched on this in the cultural differences thread, but this one is just for food. More specifically, it's for the changes you've made (or haven't made) in your regualr eating habits since shacking up together. Please share!

[russ 1]

I know we touched on this in the cultural differences thread, but this one is just for food. More specifically, it's for the changes you've made (or haven't made) in your regualr eating habits since shacking up together. Please share!

I still eat the same non-Russian food. I'm making some Kraft Mac&Cheese as I type this. In Russia, I liked the food. It is more my wife's diet that I don't like. I can't handle a zero-carb diet, I don't have any weight to lose.

[CityCat 0]

I found a cow's tongue in a supermarket once and wanted to make a tongue salad for my hubster, who always asks for some Russian food. He saw me cleaning it, sniffed the aroma in the air and I didn't see him for the next 6 hours! Apparently, the intermingling coexistence of Russian and American cuisines in our household almost irretrievably collapsed at that point!

[Chuckles 0]

I eat healthier. I can't go to McDonalds or Wendy's anymore. We have come about halfway as far as the diet is concerned. When my wife first started eating "American" food, she was very picky. She has 'warmed up' to American food now, but not everything. We eat lots more veggies. We very rarely eat beef. I eat more seafoods and stuff. I refuse to eat chicken liver though. The smell makes me sick.

We occasionally have a true "Russian" Dinner, but rarely. Like Borsh or palmeni or something.

[Satellite 1]

Both of us pretty much eat everything. Amazingly my wife had no troubles eating all the new food in America. And I mean stuff ranging from Chinese to Mexican.

However, I have been the one urging her to change her Siberian Russian diet which I think is unhealthy. For example, lots of bread and potatoes. Very few vegetables and fruits. And the worst of the worst, pure smoked pig fat with garlic! Having grown up in the central valley of California I am big on fresh fruit and vegetables that are in season. But then again I have had Russian food since coming here since that is what my grandmother and parents cooked at home when I lived with them. But her cooking is a little different so I had her watch my mom and grandma on some my favorite dishes.

[CityCat 0]

And the worst of the worst, pure smoked pig fat with garlic!

Yaam!! Salo! So nutritious and delicious (my Ukrainian grand-roots talking - it's a national icon there, almost) I miss the stuff, smoked with pepper and garlic with hard-boiled eggs and a piece of fresh-baked bread... Drooling - like Russ' wife I am low-carb, and salo by itself is a bit challenging, to put it mildly.

[Jello 0]

I knew my diet was in for big changes when about 3 days after Anna arrived, I came home from work, looked in the fridge and cabinets for food, and all my snacks and junk food were gone. She did the same thing with a lot of my clothes about a week later, but that's a different topic.

Nine months later, I'm lucky if I'm able to get a hamburger once a month (or pizza too). Seems like all our home dinners consist of either salad, borscht or chicken. Luckily, I don't work too close to home so I can still occasionally sneak in a burger or slice of pizza for lunch.

Can’t say I’m all that upset because I feel so much better. She also helped me to quit smoking and start back at the gym on a regular basis.

[mendeleev 68]

You bet your boots that my wife has influenced my diet!

When I met her, I was a vegetarian -- and had been a vegetarian for close to 30 years. I lasted that way another 2-3 years. Her borscht was my downfall.

"Please, Karl, try a bit of my borscht. I'll take the meat out."

"Oh, you like my borscht? Try some more, with a little of the meat."

Then, she gradually got more changes ...

"This mutton is really good. Wouldn't you like to try a bit, Karl?"

You get the idea. I really don't like saying no to this woman.

I'm not a vegetarian anymore! On rare occasion, I'll even buy and prepare meat myself. And I can't wait for her to arrive and change my diet some more!

[russ 1]

I'm not a vegetarian anymore!

Some vegetarians do not eat meat for ethical, moral reasons. I feel the same

way about eating meat.

[NYGirl 0]

Just out of curiousity:

what is your favorite food that your foreign spose makes and you just love it ( russian only) and does she/he make any american food or at least trying to make something that you are used to eating?

[Jason-Sasha 1]

My sweet Sasha eats anything with me while we are in the States. We try our best to eat healthy, but even she admits that the flavors of our fatty foods are just too tempting! We don't usually fill our bellies with #######, but we do eat tons of ice cream and meaty salads. While we're in Russia, we eat whatever we can to prevent starving! that's not to say that we dont have food or cannot find it, because it's everywhere! the problem is neither of us can prepare Russian food. Her sister Nina was blessed with art cooking, and if it were'nt for her, we'd both be dead! Hahaha. My favorites are all Russian soups. just love 'em. Secondly, I would have to choose those larges hunks of mouthwatering pork cooked over hot coals, Shashlik, or however you would spell it in English. I'm a big fan of yogurts and I think Russian yogurt is much nicer and there are many more varieties. Is beer considered a food group yet? It should be. I drink so much of it when I'm there. We love salads and really enjoy vegetables grown at home, not waxy and underdeveloped veggies from a produce greenhouse. We also eat tons of sushi when we have the chance. not American nor Russian. Go figure.

[russ 1]

what is your favorite food that your foreign spose makes and you just love it ( russian only) and does she/he make any american food or at least trying to make something that you are used to eating?

Бутерброд и суп. Okay, that's American too, but it is a treat when my wife makes lunch.

Мне нравятся пельмени тоже.

[russ 1]

Is beer considered a food group yet? It should be. I drink so much of it when I'm there.

Here's a little secret. All beer in Russia is Russian. Heineken? Made in Russia. Miller? That too. German beers? German name, but from a Russian brewery.

Heineken in America actually comes from Holland (and most other beers as well). Fosters is an exception, made by Molson last time I checked.

And Балтика? That's actually a joint venture of Carlsburg and Newcastle!

[Jason-Sasha 1]

I know they brew those brands there, but since I am spoiled and get the real thing at home, i only drink the crappiest of true Russian beer. Some restaurants there also brew their own brew. Really cool. Even if it does taste like I made it myself! I went on the brew tour in Amsterdam once for Heineken. wasn't impressed. Urquel in Czech Rep. is far better. I live in Busch territory so we have the best of AB. miller doesnt even exist here. And Miller is like one of the more expensive brands in Russia. Its ok, but not great. Love the extra large bottles though! I found Baltika only drinkable when already drunk..hahaha!

Edited July 26, 2007 by Jason-Sasha

[russ 1]

ok, but not great. Love the extra large bottles though! I found Baltika only drinkable when already drunk..hahaha!

Baltica 7 is my favorite drink there, #2 would be Carlsburg. In the month I was just there, I only had 2 shots of vodka. I've had 3 in the month we have been home

I spent a few years living in Holland, and I've had enough Dutch beer for a while. There is really no selection there, other than Heineken, Grolsh, Bavaria, and, well, actually that's about it. Most pubs only have one type of beer on draft.

The "heineken experience" is a tourist trap, but at least they give you a few free beers. Probably cheaper than the Leidseplein pubs around it.