By Lauren Sasson
Opinions Contributor
In a perfect world, it shouldn’t matter what kind of food a person likes. However, eating is and has always been a social event, so it’s not unreasonable for a person to feel judged or outcast for not sharing the same meal preferences as his peers.
It’s no secret that Mexican food is worshipped in Newton. There is quite possibly nothing that is coveted more than a stuffed tortilla wrapped in that shiny tinfoil; from Tango to Ana’s, we just can’t get enough.
For years, I hated the thought of even touching a taco or burrito. The only dish I would even try to stomach was plain guacamole with a few tortilla chips. The fact that I didn’t like Mexican food was my little secret. Whenever a friend would announce how much he or she craved Chipotle, I would just pull the classic ‘smile and nod.’ I was terrified of the inevitable scolding and consequent shame I would feel after revealing my distaste for the cuisine.
For a while, I prefered a sub prepared from behind a glass divider over a burrito. Only recently did I decide that enough was enough.
Ordering my first burrito from Tango was a big step for me. I get them maybe once or twice a week now. I’m not even sorry to admit that I am guilty of purposefully working my burritos into a Snapchat or two just to prove to my friends that I actually eat them now.
Although I’m convinced that the employees can still see the fear in my eyes as I decide which type of beans I want, I’ve never been more proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone. At the end of the day, food is food. It’s something to enjoy and savor- not something to stress over.
In the grand scheme of things, my issue with Mexican food was pretty insignificant. There are millions of people all over the world that don’t have access to such high quality food- or even to food at all. However, for me, as a person, overcoming this irrational fear of cuisine was something pretty significant. It showed me that it is very possible to, frankly, get over it.
