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March 7, 2011

I’m an Eatie. Are you?

Comments (31)

Last Saturday night, Jerry and I went out for dinner with our best couple friends. As a treat, we decided to go to a new “it” restaurant—one that had a magnificent review in an esteemed paper. When we got there, we were impressed by the ambiance. The room was lovely—exceptional flowers dotted the tables and beautiful dogwood branches were elegantly placed throughout. A very proper maître d’ greeted us, and a sommelier came to take our wine order. The items on the menu were meticulously described, and it was hard to choose—so much so that we decided to share all of our dishes—appetizers and main courses.

All of the elements were in place for a memorable meal.

Then the food began to arrive. To call it fancy would be an understatement. There was foam, there were architectural elements, and there were animal parts none of us had ever tried. The food was prepared in very special and highly considered ways that are difficult to describe.

We all suddenly felt a little low class for this joint.

Our little group prefers a more low-key, rustic type of food—the kind that is not precious in any way.

Despite the design and display of food at this restaurant, none of us loved our dishes the way you want to when you are getting dressed up and entering into an atmosphere that suggests such greatness.

When we got the bill, we were in shock. Yes, we fully understand and respect how labor intensive it is to prepare dishes so delicately and how much training it requires to be capable of doing so. But, when we compared the cost to our level of enjoyment, the numbers just didn’t make sense to us. And it was then that we came to a revelatory conclusion: WE ARE NOT FOODIES.

This was a major admission on our part. We love food, and we like to think of ourselves as open-minded and adventurous eaters. But the cult and fetishization of fancy food is simply not us, and we are comfortable with that. As my husband—who has coined a phrase once or twice in his life—eloquently said, “We are not foodies, we’re EATIES!”

YES! We are EATIES!!! Simply put, we just love to eat good food that is not complicated, overwrought, and over thought.

This realization gave me new insight into my approach to food preparation. I have written two books aimed at offering food solutions for families. The first emphasized ways to blend healthy vegetables into kids’ favorite meals, while the second one expanded the concept of good family meals by adding in grains and other nutritious supplements. Both books were best sellers, but more importantly, both resulted in a massive outpouring of feedback from parents who were ecstatic to find simple approaches to feeding their children better—and craving more.

Many foodies and other food puritans (many of whom have never cooked a meal for a child) don’t like the approach of turning vegetables and other nutrients into invisible ingredients. Which is fine! Not every tactic is right for everyone. Some have children who have loved whole vegetables from the time they started eating solid food. Mazel Tov! Believe me, I tried it their way for years, but when dinner becomes stressful or when your child has never eaten anything that was grown fresh from the ground, it’s time to try something else.

So I set about solving my own problem, and it worked. My kids now eat salad every night, and loads of fresh veggies. And since I started sharing my experiences and recipes, I have been overwhelmed by the reaction from people who are grateful to have seen a green vegetable enter their child’s body for the first time—especially from the many highly sensitive or autistic kids who need their vegetables pureed.

But when Jerry said, “You are an Eatie,” I realized suddenly who I am, professionally. Just because I write books and make videos about food, doesn’t mean I should be categorized as a foodie. I am really just a schlep who came up with a way to feel better as a mother in how I feed my extremely picky eaters. It’s okay that some disagree with how I feed my family vegetables, but it’s working for us.

Families that have food issues—big or small—that’s who I’m focused on. As an Eatie, I am dedicated to simple, basically prepared fare that is delicious, wholesome, and affordable. I hope you will join me in our Eatie Club. We are accepting new members.

Posted by Jessica Seinfeld
Category: Personal Thoughts

31 comments, add yours below

lara / the glossarie. on March 8, 2011 at 5:17PM wrote:

omg YES i’m a total eatie! i much prefer well-done comfort to over-done fancy - you said it so well and i’m glad i’m not alone!


 

Laura on March 8, 2011 at 7:22PM wrote:

Totally. You should start a wholesale movement for eaties.  Many chefs have gone down the architectural and molecular route.  It makes for good TV and pretty presentation. But on the plate, us eaties want real, unfussy foods with brilliant flavors.


 

Tess Popplewell on March 8, 2011 at 11:39PM wrote:

Jessica,
I’m so happy to find your site!  Tonight I fixed your roast chicken and we loved it! I didn’t have fresh herbs, but I’ll bet they taste so much better than dried.
I’m not a young cook (I’m 56) & my husband is picky so anything different he is very leery of, but you kinda’ sneak in good things. I enjoy cooking now more than ever! Thanks!


 

Cathy on March 9, 2011 at 1:35PM wrote:

Love that term - Eatie! I made your chicken under a brick a month or so ago.. we are not usually dark meat chicken eaters, but this recipe was fantastic! I have made it TWICE since then! Bonus that chicken thighs are much cheaper than the breast. THANK YOU Jessica! (PS - congrats on the Glee shout out last night!)


 

Stori on March 10, 2011 at 1:47PM wrote:

You are too funny!  I am an eatie too, and I definitely appreciate your style of cooking.  It was a lifesaver for me after the birth of my daughter!  Thanks for keeping food simple and healthy.


 

Keshi Pearls on March 11, 2011 at 4:02AM wrote:

Can’t stop but laugh as i read your post. ;) The word “Eatie” is perfect. Of course I am an eatie. And just like you, I prefer delicious and affordable foods. Love your post. Thanks for sharing. ;)


 

Lucy on March 15, 2011 at 10:28AM wrote:

I love this! My kids were picky when they were younger, but I never made it a battle. Now that they are grown, they are choosing themselves to try new things and opening their palates to new tastes and experiences. Fun to watch now but I still wish I had found a way to get them to eat more vegetables when they were growing up.


 

Rachel on March 15, 2011 at 10:29AM wrote:

well written piece! Like the new phrase you’ve coined!


 

Lisa on March 15, 2011 at 12:53PM wrote:

I’m an Eatie too! Wonderful piece Jessica, as a mother of one not very picky eater (2 1/2) and one extremely picky eater (4) I can honestly say that your recipes are IMPORTANT. It’s amazing how much it helps my morale to know that my daughter has at least had a (hidden) bite of cauliflower, sweet potato or even chick pea.


 

Denine on March 15, 2011 at 10:54PM wrote:

A fabulous bit of honesty! I love the term & will whole-heartedly adopt it.
As a trained chef, caterer and foodblogger, many of my friends feel that dining out w/me or inviting me to dinner is a no-no! Fact of the matter is, I like simple good food, nothing too fancy or elaborate. I want my meals separate from my theater/entertainment!


 

Katie Gianotti on March 15, 2011 at 11:01PM wrote:

Never did I think I would be interested in what an uber wealthy woman in New York would have to say about home cooking. But are you adorable, genuine, honest in your approach and a delight to watch on video. You should have a cooking show and now you have a title. Eatie!
That’s hilarious. And so true.


 

Ashley | Domestic Fashionista on March 16, 2011 at 3:59PM wrote:

I am an eatie as well! In order to strive to learn and eat better, I am going through your book one recipe a week…sort of a Julie and Julia themed cook off.  And I share it on my blog.  I am excited to say other woman have joined in and are all being inspired by your book.


 

Ashley | Domestic Fashionista on March 16, 2011 at 4:01PM wrote:

I am going out on a limb here and am wondering if you would be interested in giving away a book {or two} to my blog readers.  here are my deceptively delicious posts so far:

http://domestic-fashionista.blogspot.com/search/label/Deceptively Delicious


 

kasey on March 16, 2011 at 4:12PM wrote:

I feel the same way! I want to LOVE what i’m eating but also love the ambiance and the people i’m enjoying the meal with.
bravo!


 

Deb on March 19, 2011 at 12:36PM wrote:

Jerry nailed it again. I am an eatie too. I’m always looking for simpler ways to make real food taste better (sometimes it’s just a matter of using better ingredients). I believe what Michael Ruhlman says, “the world is a better place when we cook.”


 

Amber on March 23, 2011 at 2:56PM wrote:

Couldn’t have put it better myself!  That phrase needs to be trademarked;)


 

Eva on March 24, 2011 at 1:07PM wrote:

Love it! What a great way of putting it…love the website!


 

Esther Schwartz on March 25, 2011 at 11:44AM wrote:

We are eaties as well for the most part.  But once in a while, it’s great to have your mind and palate blown away and try something new.  I would have no complaints if such food wasn’t so *** expensive!


 

susan on March 29, 2011 at 10:31PM wrote:

You, and your words, are a breath of fresh air! Excited to have found your website and books.


 

Gina McDonnell on March 31, 2011 at 4:26AM wrote:

Hi Jessica,
        I am a mother of three children, one of whom   has until two weeks ago been fed liquid food directly into her stomach via a tube for all of her three and a half years. After three weeks in hospital she is now tube weaned but with a limited diet. Your book is now my bible with extremely helpful advice. I thankyou for it.


 

Jennifer on March 31, 2011 at 12:05PM wrote:

Well said!! I am an eatie, 100%. When I go out, I’m still looking for a homecooked meal, it’s just one that I don’t have to cook for myself!! And I still don’t have kids yet but when I do I will be more than happy to pulse, puree, dye or dry if it makes the little suckers eat it (my mum used to put blue food colouring in our mashed potatoes)!


 

Jessica on April 6, 2011 at 10:29AM wrote:

Gina, I send you my best wishes. Thanks for your kind words. Good luck.


 

Brie on April 21, 2011 at 4:49PM wrote:

My Entire family love eating good food!! My husband is a fine dining chef so I get Absolutely spoilt with amazing food!! I get very disappointed most times when we go out with the food quality so we mostly prefer to eat at home and have friends round!! When we find somewhere delicious to eat we keep it ad a regular!! I just love good food!!!


 

Kim from 3 peanuts on April 23, 2011 at 6:21PM wrote:

I love the refreshing honesty in this post.  We too are eaties.  i sometimes think the foodies go one trend ingredient too far;)  My kiddos have gluten and dairy sensitivities so their choices are somewhat limited but they eat loads of salads and veggies. I think you are doing a terrific job!


 

Stacie on April 24, 2011 at 3:11AM wrote:

LOL…that describes my husband and me to a perfect T, and I have never been that fond of foam. I just watched your interview with Gwyneth and loved how relaxed you all were…very enjoyable and glad I found your blog!


 

Ashley Brannon on June 24, 2011 at 11:36AM wrote:

Such a cute and clever post.  You’re such a good writer.  It sounds like the atmosphere was the best part of the evening.  Next time, light some candles in your dinning room and have some yummy Pei Wei catered!  Comfy, romantic atmosphere with tasty food that you don’t need a co-signer to enjoy! I am curious about which animal parts were on display


 

jpdoherty on July 10, 2011 at 4:37PM wrote:

Perfect words. Perfectly said. I personally find the pureed recipes fun to make and a new and different approach to just adding a steamed veggie on the side or in a dish. Not to mention the fun and healthy ways to prepare and cook. Bravo!


 

mmreiser on July 10, 2011 at 7:39PM wrote:

Reading this has made me feel SO MUCH BETTER about my experiences at restaurants like Montrachet (sp?) and Daniel! The foamy dishes confuse me, and the bizarre animal parts just make me feel so “non-adventurous”—even though I’d like to feel like I am!! It was a huge relief to read your post—your lack of pretension is amazing and refreshing. :)


 

Cal on November 16, 2011 at 9:43PM wrote:

I really enjoyed reading this post. I have had the same problem you did, with my kid not eating any vegetable I offer her. And I did do all the “right” things I was supposed to in order to raise a good eater: We eat vegetables, are adventurous eaters, cook from scratch, etc. It is just the way she is. So I am very glad for your recipes and tips!


 

Jay on November 21, 2011 at 7:57PM wrote:

I am so much like you.  I do not know the terminology of foods, regions or what is considered a delicacy, but I do know what good food is.  Tasty and simple.  I am an eatie just like you.


 

Sani on December 20, 2011 at 8:56PM wrote:

I am an EATIE too!!!! YAY I finally know where Howard and I fit in….


 

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