How Spain has changed my life in terms of food….

Where to begin? Many people, myself included, thought I would have issues in Spain eating; because, as many people say although I disagree, I am a picky eater. I know many a pickier eater than myself. I’m always willing to try new things, I’m not opposed to having to pick out the things I don’t like and set them aside, and I know that if I don’t like what is being served in my house that I go without and I’m fine with that. However, there are just some foods out there that I don’t like, or at least thought I didn’t.

Water. I know it sounds silly, but I’ve never liked water that much and would only drink it as a last resort. I drank at least 2 glasses of water almost every day I was in Spain. I came to the US with the intention of keeping up this good habit only to realize that tap water here is still as disgusting as always. It’s a work in process but I’m drinking more water than I used to while home, so it’s a start. 

Coffee. Aside from super sugary iced coffee drinks from McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, or Minerva’s Café at my home campus library, I didn’t really ever touch coffee.  That has changed. I drank a fair amount of coffee in Spain, either from the vending machine, a café, or at my boyfriend’s place. In fact my first week home from Spain I had a cup every day in the morning. Now not so much, as I’m realizing that the coffee here isn’t as awesome as it is and Spain and no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to make it the same way as my boyfriend. So I’ve kind of given up on my once a day habit of coffee, but still drink it more than before.

In fact as far as beverages (non-alcoholic, of course) in Spain, I lived off of water, coffee, orange juice, and Coca-Cola. It was nice. And most of the time I just drank water so I was always super hydrated and not consuming pointless calories; which I assume contributed to my weight loss, or at least the appearance of weight loss….

Oranges. I was never a huge fan of oranges as a kid, or rather any citrus fruit with orange color. I didn’t even like orange juice, but that has changed over the last few years. So while in Spain I decided to give the little orange like things in the fruit basket a try; and I love them. In fact, upon returning to the US I requested that my mother buy me a box of clementines. She was shocked, but I ate them all.  And I’m pretty sure my 2 a day habit in Spain helped boost my immune system. I only got sick once in Spain, and as you may recall, it was my fist week there.

Onions. I’ve never been a huge fan of onions. I’d eat them finely chopped in hamburgers or in my aunt’s macaroni salad, but that’s about it. Then I discovered the glory of the Spanish onion which is a little sweeter than the one’s in the US, and onions just don’t seem that bad anymore. I eat them a little more than I used to and nearly every time dream of Kebab….

Beans. My idea of beans used to consist of green beans, wax(yellow) beans,  and lima beans (all of which I like) and then baked beans, kidney beans, red beans, and jelly beans (all of which I don’t like). So generally I tell people I don’t like beans. But in Spain, I decided not to tell my host mother of my unusual taste buds so I would have to try new food. Well I tried beans. Alubias. Big white ones...they’re ok if seasoned properly. Then in some Brazilian food I tried this other time of bean that I don’t know what the name of it was, but they were delicious. So now I tell people I like beans because I have come to the conclusion that there are so many kinds of beans out there you may as well try them all and decide from there.

Lentils. I had never had lentils in my life until about a week before leaving for Spain, and once I got to Spain I ate a lot more. Needless to say I like them.

 

Ham. If you get the right kind, its better in Spain. Example- Jamón Ibérico= Delicious. Jamón Serano…well, good luck getting past the smell… Jamón York= Standard deli ham same as here in the US but seems kind of lousy after you've had the good stuff.

Cheese. I always ate it melted in Spain, just like home in the US. But it Italy I did have some uncooked mozzarella on a Panini and in my dinner with the mafia I tried some that wasn’t that bad either. I still don’t think I’ll be able to eat raw cheese (aside from cheese curd) in the US. The majority of it is way too processed to be good without melting it first.

Things with tentacles and large shrimp. 

You don’t taste bad, but you creep me out. 

I’m still going to avoid eating you.

Tomatoes. I still don’t like them raw. End of story.