Sunday Night @ 9:30pm. I’m in the market buying groceries. Whilst at the check out, the cashier begins asking me about the fare in my cart:
1 big bag of Kale Greens
2 bottles of Agave nectar
1 small bottle of Organic (California) Olive Oil
Mind you, this was my second trip to the grocery, because I forgot the above items on my first go round, a mere few hours earlier. Anyway, she asks first about the Agave.
Cashier: Is this like honey?
Me: Not exactly. It’s made from cactus. It’s supposed to be good for diabetics because it sweetens without raising sugar levels. I use it in my smoothies.
Cashier: *blank look, nod* oh.
So she rings them up. She’s now eyeing the Kale greens with a look of wonder. Or maybe that was a look of perplex. Anguish? Exasperation?
Cashier: So what do you use these for?
Me: I put them in my smoothies.
Cashier: *blank look*
Me: I make Kale, pineapple and chia seed smoothies.
Cashier: *blank look*
Me: Chia seeds are an Aztec superfood.
Cashier: *blank look*
Me: They’re really good for you… … fiber…
Cashier: *blank look* Oh.
She finishes ringing me up, I give her cash, pick up my bag and go about my evening. I didn’t actually find that conversation weird or awkward. I was a little unprepared, maybe. But I shouldn’t have been. It happens to me alllllllll the time. You would think that I would dress up–complete with my full M.A.C. regalia– and prepare a short presentation (with slide show) when I go to the market. You know, just in case my shopping cart causes a ruckus, as it often does.
Granted, at Whole Foods, no one bothers me. Most folk who shop there and work there get where I am in my more regular eating habits. But honey, let me get it crackin in the Super Walmart around my way that carries most of what I would get at Whole Foods for 1/2 the price. Let the *blank looks* and 20 questions begin! My cart by now is the stuff of legend.
I get it completely. In this sea of food crap that has become common place in our diets, particularly in “colored” households, where fast, fried, processed and/or barely healthy, stone dead foods are the norm. A colored girl like me makes supermarket headlines just by being present, in running gear… and with a cart full of young Thai coconuts, green plantain, radishes, English cukes, portobello mushrooms, artisan lettuce, a bag of fresh green beans, shallots, sweet and roasted peppers, whole wheat wraps, 3 bags of frozen pineapple, vine tomatoes, avocados, 6 Culligan water refills, and a fresh mozzarella ball. My cart begs a lot of questions. Mostly, who IS this woman and WTF is she eating THAT for?
If you were to ask me 3 minutes ago… rather, any minutes ago that my eating habits would become the stuff of anyone’s interest or conversation in passing or by way of social media discussion, “yeah, right” is all you’d get from me. I’ve never had interest in being a food ambassador. My bag has always been you know, smart chic blah, blah.
For most of the 15 years I was a vegetarian, I was looked at like I had just given birth to a monkey right in front of folks faces–as they watched in horror. “You don’t eat meat?!” *gasp, sigh, faint*
Admittedly, I’ve acquired a bit of a chip on my left shoulder. I’m even looking at my computer with a tinge of attitude as I write this. *side eye, eye roll, lip curl, etc.*
Funny. Now that the science is in and the documentaries are out about how our food choices contribute completely to our health, well-being and quality of life… The Cart becomes the thing. Particularly MY cart, in Super Wal-mart. *side eye, eye roll, lip curl, etc.*
All attitude aside, considering that October is Vegetarian Awareness month. I’ve sworn off animal flesh for this month in its entirety. I’m doing it in honor of the food practice that kept me alive for a good portion of my adult life. Plus, I’m doing it to see if it’s something I’d like to continue for the rest of my adult life.
I suppose I should be more welcoming to folk who show interest in my cart. Even if that interest takes the familiar form of an awkward question(s) and a blank look (s). It’s not like I don’t know what I’m eating. It’s just a pain in the ass to explain to folks who think a Hot Pocket represents the four food groups. Or that Diabetes is rampant because of “the bird flu”. Serious. Or to even be present in an argument with the likes of Jillian Michaels who seems to have some tick about meatless diets to the point that she just about loses her cookies at the mention of the word “veg-e-tar-ian”. She simply passes out when folk use the word “ve-gan”.
Meanwhile, Colored folk of all varieties have been eating so wrong for so long, it’s almost sacrilegious to talk about a faceless diet to folks without trampling on their very culture. That’s a lot of pressure to assume with my little, blameless shopping cart–who didn’t ask to be a part of such a task.
The funny thing is, when one walks the walk, the talking part is really just vegan cake icing. I’ve had to come to grips with the idea that more and more people KNOW in their bones that their food sucks and they want a change and simply haven’t a clue how or what to do to get the change they’re after. So they look at people like me who are active and vibrant with a cart full of bright, energetic fabulousness and go, “Wow”. They know there’s something there. They just don’t know what to do with that information. Maybe spreading what I know about health, well being and food is now a part of my charge as a broadcaster. And just maybe, I can help folk start filling their own carts in such a way that the infamous blank look will forever go away. The cart IS the thing after all.
The moral of this story? No dice. No idea. Just some food for thought. Thank you for reading this though. Peace and Abundant “change your cart, change you life” blessings! Love, -e-