I totally do not mind that you surfed in. I always love hearing from new folks.
You bring up about 5000 great points in your response, I hope you don't mind if I make some notes for when I go back and do revisions for the novel I'm working on.
And it is very, very possible that "comfort food" is an American, or at the least Western, concept. I've seen the phrase used by Western non-white people, but all were from some region of the Americas. Don't know if I've seen any Europeans using it. Hmm, that's something to research, perhaps.
I think you might also be very right about the picky eating. I've noticed that among white folks that I know, especially those with kids, they're not so much concerned about getting them to try new things and that's it's acceptable for a child not to eat something new so long as they eat other things that are being served. So, for instance, if a kid doesn't want to try broccoli for the first time, as long as they eat the rest of the meal, it's okay. Wasting food seems to be more acceptable among whites.
Not sure why this is. I will note there are some differences in Americans from the North and those from the South. Northerners, I've found, often fix a meal for the family, leave it on the stove, and members eat when they're ready - not together. Southerners, like my family, have this thing about eating together at the same time, in the same place. Meals have communal significance and it's considered the height of rudeness to eat dinner separately from the rest of the family. My stepfather is from New Jersey, we're from Tennessee, and this has actually caused family fights.
Like I said, you raise a metric ton of great points. I'm friending you back, hope you don't mind!
Re: eating from your culture
You bring up about 5000 great points in your response, I hope you don't mind if I make some notes for when I go back and do revisions for the novel I'm working on.
And it is very, very possible that "comfort food" is an American, or at the least Western, concept. I've seen the phrase used by Western non-white people, but all were from some region of the Americas. Don't know if I've seen any Europeans using it. Hmm, that's something to research, perhaps.
I think you might also be very right about the picky eating. I've noticed that among white folks that I know, especially those with kids, they're not so much concerned about getting them to try new things and that's it's acceptable for a child not to eat something new so long as they eat other things that are being served. So, for instance, if a kid doesn't want to try broccoli for the first time, as long as they eat the rest of the meal, it's okay. Wasting food seems to be more acceptable among whites.
Not sure why this is. I will note there are some differences in Americans from the North and those from the South. Northerners, I've found, often fix a meal for the family, leave it on the stove, and members eat when they're ready - not together. Southerners, like my family, have this thing about eating together at the same time, in the same place. Meals have communal significance and it's considered the height of rudeness to eat dinner separately from the rest of the family. My stepfather is from New Jersey, we're from Tennessee, and this has actually caused family fights.
Like I said, you raise a metric ton of great points. I'm friending you back, hope you don't mind!