Fish-Eater

Many of you know that Ella, like her Mommy, is a vegetarian. And anyone that hangs around Ella long enough is sure to hear it straight from the horse's mouth eventually, i.e.:

"Come here Ella, you're naked."
"No I'm not, I'm vegetarian."

Raising her this way, at least for the time being, is something that Melody and I agreed on a long time ago. We have certainly heard plenty of flack from people about how she probably isn't getting enough protein and many other reasons why she needs to be eating meat, and that's quite alright. Everyone has their own opinion.

Anyway, she has been eating fish here and there for quite a while, but recently has been enjoying it more. Fish comprises a large portion of Filipinos' diets (by the way, my favorite is milkfish, or bangus) and it would seem that that half of Ella's genes is trying to keep up.

Filipinos also have a tendency to serve their fish whole, on a platter for everyone to share. I have gotten used to it now, but many Westerners are quite taken aback by it, probably because the fish can seem pretty lifelike with the head still intact. Although it doesn't bother Ella now either, she commented recently at home that the Tilapia fish (which appeared to be staring back at her) on the table was "sad." When Melody asked her why it's sad, she said "because it's fried." Yeah, that would certainly damper my spirits, too.

Now, I love to eat fried Tilapia and milkfish, but sometimes Melody and her fam like to eat other kinds that don't appeal to me as much, like bulad. So I took a pass when Melody made some Bonita fish the other day. Ella, however, went to town on it, and enjoyed it in true Filipino fashion, with the oh-so-important soy sauce (notice how it had to be rightly placed in a plastic spoon).