health
The hill I will die on: Food-sharing is gross without serious rules of engagement
No trying my dessert, no tasting my drink, and definitely no double-dipping. I don’t care if it makes me sound precious or a germophobe
TL;DR
- The author recalls her childhood reaction to her uncle's aversion to sharing drinks due to contamination concerns.
- Despite Indian culture often emphasizing food sharing, the author has developed strict personal rules about not sharing food or drinks.
- She believes that cultural norms around food sharing can be problematic when they involve unsanitary practices like double-dipping or using the same utensil for multiple dishes.
- The COVID-19 pandemic intensified her germ-consciousness, leading her to refuse sharing drinks or food from others' plates.
- She experienced vindication when a friend who called her 'precious' for refusing to try food from her plate subsequently fell ill with a cold.