Curious Cook: Bitter food, protein absorption and other quirky food news

Instead of the usual breakfasts, a protein-rich one may help maintain better muscle health. — COTTONBRO/Pexels

It is now a long time ago, but I remember vividly the first days when I started to reduce my consumption of meat here in France. I suppose I was a meat addict years ago, and it was very difficult to cut down entirely on meat, which I had tried to do as an experiment on myself.

So, the first week of vegan food was grim, forcing myself to eat carrots dipped in humus, or cucumber raita with pitta bread, or various kinds of bean salads. But eventually, my taste buds seemed to adapt a little better, though I never attempted another full week of vegan dieting. I decided to be a flexitarian instead, most of the benefits of a mainly animal-free diet but with much less of the pain.