Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.”
When reading that particular verse, it is very easy for somebody to think along the lines of “don’t drink around an alcoholic”, but it’s so much more than that! It can apply to somebody who might be watching their face; is it Christ like of us to polish off a pint of Ben & Jerry’s in front of a person who is struggling to lose weight, whose weak spot is ice cream? It could also mean avoiding certain foods in front of a person who is allergic to those fare.
I can personally attest to how difficult it is watching somebody else consume what you know you shouldn’t have. As a person who is gluten, corn and soy intolerant, a LOT of food are off limits for me. I actually avoided going out to restaurants for nearly a year when I first found out what was making me sick because I didn’t want to burden others. Gradually, over time it became easier to deal with, and I became more familiar with what I could eat or couldn’t have. It does not mean I still don’t have moments where I just want to eat without abandon, not caring how I was affecting my body. Why would I do that to myself? I hated watching other people eat exactly what I was craving, time after time. I am not saying to never eat a slice of bread in front of me ever again, but to at least be considerate.
I do not mean to sound selfish, but if I struggle with this, chances are others does too. When my cousin was first diagnosed with Celiac disease, we all scrambled to find ways to recreate food that were similar to what she loved but were now gluten free- it made all the difference in the world. And it still does.
Isn’t food often a way to bring together loved ones, even for those who might feel like outcasts with dietary restrictions, whatever the cause? It goes back to what I wrote about drinking in front of an alcoholic; do you really want to tempt them with a lousy bottle of cheap beer after years of sobriety? Knowing what devastating things it may cause them to do? Why bother?
Christ calls us to act with love. Let us love others the way we want to be loved, starting with what nourishes our body; food.
I’ll share a simple recipe that is a huge hit at parties, and I often serve as hors d'oeuvres: stuffed mushrooms.
Ingredients
1 package of Baby Bella mushrooms
1 tsp. (or two cloves) of minced garlic
2 jalapenos, minced (canned is acceptable)
¼ c. Mexican cheese, shredded **
¼ tsp. chili powder
1.) Spray a glass pan with olive oil.
2.) Cut stems from the mushrooms, and mince them. Place in a bowl, separate from the caps. (which goes in the pan)
3.) Mix all other ingredients in the bowl with the minced mushrooms.
4.) Using a baby spoon, or a teaspoon to stuff the mixture in the caps. Continue until the mixture is completely used up; the caps will be overflowing.
5.) Broil until the cheese is completely melted, or if you want the mushroom cooked longer, do so until it is browned.
** You can easily substitute the Mexican cheese with soy cheese for a dairy-free version!
