My sister and I have been living together for almost a year and a half now. We’ve had our ups and downs: typical bickering and occasional temper issues balanced out by bottles of wine and marathons of Glee. We’ve reconciled our differing lifestyles: I could go weeks without turning on a television, while she needs it daily to unwind. I like the temperature hot and stuffy; she can’t sleep without a cold breeze. I’m a morning person who arises happily for yoga class; she is one of those people to whom one should probably not speak before 10 AM. When we moved in to our first place, I was the chef, she the queen of cereal for dinner or Thai takeout.
Our ongoing stint together has not altered much in the way of our personalities – earplugs have helped us get past noise issues, for instance, rather than altering our habits altogether. But there is one exception.
that would be a recent plate of the sister’s.
I filled our first shared refrigerator with produce, almond butter, and Greek yogurt and stocked our cabinets with quinoa and bushels of raw nuts. Ally would often ask what in the world a certain new find in the fridge was, and I would explain, often offering up a portion of the dish I planned to make. I cooked nightly back then, and she had many opportunities to try new things, even if she would never take the initiative to make them herself.
Things change, and now? She’s been going to the grocery store of her own accord, coming home with cherry tomatoes and greens, apples and whole grain breads. I’ve watched her snack on apples and peanut butter and prepare salads with raw kale for dinner. Her boss keeps a Fresh Direct account for his employees, and she joked with me that she had just had fennel delivered to the office. She sent me a link to the newest cafe she orders lunch from, which boasts a focus on nutrition and ingredients over processed components and calories. Recently, I smiled when I saw that my rants on organic dairy seem to have had an effect: she’s started buying organic half and half.
a classic sister meal: toasted pita, topped with spinach, poached eggs, salsa, curry powder.
Last night, after watching a nutty musical downtown, I asked what Ally felt like doing for dinner. Her suggestion led us to Counter, where she proclaimed her craving was for some vegetables. [Counter, btw, has revamped their menu from mostly small plates to more traditional appetizers, mains, and sides. That didn't stop us from dissecting the offerings and sharing it all nonetheless].
to share: spring salad [with pea shoots, radish, and lemon-thyme vinaigrette]; flatbread with roasted asparagus, heirloom tomatoes, and marjoram-walnut pesto; fregola with asparagus, fava beans, and ramps. one of the best spreads i’ve ever had at counter – flavor and freshness were abundant.
My sister has seen me change as well, going from preparing every meal for myself, sipping only tea at night, to eating out and enjoying wine and dessert regularly. I’ve loosened up while cementing my philosophy on the style of eating that I believe in. It’s nice that my sister fully understands that philosophy, and I think she might actually believe in it too.
Have you influenced anyone in your life? Or vice versa?
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Yes! My roommates didn’t cook or eat any fresh produce when we moved into our apartment in January. By the end of the semester, they were cooking cheesecakes and filling the fridge with fresh greenery. Our grocery bags became so identical that we actually had to start labeling stuff in the fridge so we knew what belonged to whom!
Aww that’s so cool that you influenced her like that! I’ve influenced my parents a LOT too. It’s the best feeling!
Since my boyfriend and I have been together, he has made major changes in the way he eats. He used to drink soda, but now drinks seltzer. He loves eating vegetarian food, and even orders vegetarian meals sometimes at restaurants so we can share.