My dear friend, I see these little personality quizzes making the rounds, and I always smile. At eighty-seven, having lived on my own in my farmhouse for the past eight years, I’ve come to understand that the small, everyday choices we make form the true foundation of our well-being. What we put on our plates—and what we leave off—is rarely just about taste. It reflects our journey, our values, and the memories we carry.
As a physician who finished her residency many decades ago, I’ve always seen food through a dual lens: the science of nourishment and the emotional comfort it provides. So I put the kettle on, brewed a cup of my grandmother’s “church coffee”—the kind made with a pinch of salt and an egg to smooth the flavor—and sat down to think about what these simple culinary choices might reveal about us. Let’s explore.
Why Food Choices Feel So Personal

Food is more than fuel. It is tangled up with memory, tradition, and identity. The ingredients we gravitate toward can reflect our cultural roots, our lifestyle, our values, our need for comfort, and our openness to the unfamiliar. Because food touches so many parts of daily life, even a small choice can carry surprising weight.
If You Chose to Live Without Sugar

If You Chose to Live Without Sugar
You likely value natural balance, authenticity, and a grounded approach to life. You don’t need things artificially sweetened to find joy in them.

I recognize this in my own kitchen. I have a deep, nostalgic love for the slow-cooker desserts and holiday treats passed down through generations, but I’ve learned to let whole foods speak for themselves. When I make my grandmother’s cranberry salad for family gatherings, I rely on the fruit’s own bright tartness, perhaps with a whisper of honey, rather than drowning it in syrup. Choosing to forgo refined sugar often means you seek the genuine, unadulterated beauty in things—substance over superficial sweetness.

If You Chose to Live Without Salt
You are likely adaptable, health-conscious, and deeply attuned to the needs of your body and the people you love.

As a former doctor, I always urged my patients to watch their circulation and blood pressure. I do still use a tiny, nearly imperceptible pinch of salt in my morning coffee to round out the flavor, but otherwise I cherish the vibrant tastes of fresh herbs, garlic, and lemon. People who willingly give up salt tend to be the quiet nurturers of their families—the ones who research heart-healthy alternatives and transform simple, low-sodium ingredients into something unexpectedly delicious.

If You Chose to Live Without Dairy
You are likely creative, open-minded, and resourceful. You don’t let tradition limit your ability to make something beautiful.

As a vegetarian, I’ve become well practiced in this kind of kitchen improvisation. I’ve learned that comfort doesn’t require heavy cream or butter. I still make the rich, creamy mashed potatoes my late husband Ethan loved—and which I still prepare with care, because they carry the warmth of our holiday dinners—using a good vegetable broth, a splash of olive oil, and a little patience. Choosing to live without dairy often reveals someone who thrives on finding clever, gentle solutions to life’s small challenges.

If You Chose to Live Without Meat
Well, you and I have a great deal in common. Embracing a vegetarian life has been one of the most meaningful everyday choices I’ve made.

People who give up meat tend to be empathetic, reflective, and connected to the wider world. For me, the choice didn’t mean surrendering comfort; it taught me the beauty of frugal, resourceful cooking. It led me to the quiet joy of a well-made egg salad—still redolent of slow Sunday mornings with my mother—or a hearty pot of lentils on a cold evening. It reveals someone who values compassion, sustainability, and the satisfaction of making the most of what the earth provides.

If You Chose to Live Without Wheat or Grains
You likely value vitality, lightness, and a fresh perspective. You aren’t afraid to break from tradition if it means feeling your best.

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