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Atoke’s Monday Morning Banter: Will the Real Foodies Please Stand Up?

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I think we can all agree that the weekend flies by way too fast! One minute you’re jubilating as you pack up your computer on Friday evening, you blink and next thing it’s Sunday evening. There’s always so many things happening during the weekend – shopping, cooking, laundry, house affairs, watching soccer, weddings, birthday parties, work -related events – before you know it, you’re dragging yourself into bed, praying there’s NEPA power in the morning for you to straighten your shirt for work. My weekend was very chilled and the high point of my weekend was having TeetoCeemos and Praiz in the same same space with me at One Mic Naija yesterday. Having those two very hot specimen of male awesomeness was enough to put a spring into my step for the rest of the week! Then, I got home and a relative from my home town was around. Bummer! You know those visitors who just pop up uninvited and unanounced?  Growing up, we always had people coming around but one thing that struck me particularly about these visitors from the village was the quantity of food consumed!

Back then, we were told that people who stayed in the village ate more food because their bellies had a bigger capacity for food. Why? They said it was because they did more physical/rigorous work and as such their bodies burnt up more energy. So in my little mind, people who eat heaps of Eba, Semo, Pounded Yam and rice were people who work hard and burn up a lot of energy.  You can imagine my shock when I started attending weddings and I saw the way young, upwardly mobile professionals guzzling down food like they were storing it away for a time of famine! I used to wonder, did this person come here from a cocoa farm? How much rice can you eat? Wait, you’re asking them to bring pounded yam? What? After that heap of rice?

Another intriguing phenomenon of this food consumption issue is the idea of eating because food is free. I was discussing this issue with my friend Tolulope and she was the one who introduced the Free Food element. Tolu works in an office where they serve them lunch. You go to the lunch room with your access pass, swipe, and get served. However, there are some young ladies who specialize in asking for your access pass. “Shebi you’re going to client’s site today? Let me use your access pass na! I want to get extra food”. She said the day she heard those words she was weak. She explained that the lunch served in her office was proper buffet style lunch and you’d be full to bursting. She chucked it down to free food, saying she didn’t think that any one who paid for their own food ate that much. I said it’s just love of food and maybe we shouldn’t begrudge anybody.

There’s also the class of people who go for parties and leave grumbling “We even went for Femi’s party and we didn’t get food to eat”. My response “Shey you’re going home? You’ll eat when you get home na! abi?” I’m guessing the purpose of a party is food. *shrug*

I mean I’m a sucker for small chops! Nothing can separate me from puff puff and samosa; but everything should be done in moderation. I mean what’s the point of going for a party, eating so much that the other guests can’t eat?

So, will the real Foodies step to the mic and tell us how these things work? Please share your foodie experience stories. Remember, it’s all fun and bants!

Have a great week, remember to smile or find a reason to smile. Stay focused and positive; live and love!

Peace, love & cupcakes!

Toodles!

Photo creditcometonigeria.com

You probably wanna read a fancy bio? But first things first! Atoke published a book titled, +234 - An Awkward Guide to Being Nigerian. It's available on Amazon. ;)  Also available at Roving Heights bookstore. Okay, let's go on to the bio: With a Masters degree in Creative Writing from Swansea University, Atoke hopes to be known as more than just a retired foodie and a FitFam adherent. She can be reached for speechwriting, copywriting, letter writing, script writing, ghost writing  and book reviews by email – [email protected]. She tweets with the handle @atoke_ | Check out her Instagram page @atoke_ and visit her website atoke.com for more information.

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