It seems like maintaining a healthy diet is way harder when you're Arab. And it's not just the fact that our food is too good to resist – so good we often have to take a nap after eating it :
1. Every 'azeema marks a cheat day ... and we sure do have a lot of those
You're trying a new diet and just when you hit the one-week mark, you get invited to a 'azeema. You just know you'll be compensating for all the food you've been cutting back on because, well, we're Arab.
We are known for our hospitality and use up every opportunity to honor our guests with the most glorious feasts, where they're expected to eat like there's no tomorrow.
2. Do you dare refuse food?
When it comes to food, Arabs just can't take no for an answer. Your "I'm too full" either means you're too shy to eat or that you didn't like the food. "La test'hi" they say, as they take the liberty to scoop you another plateful.
3. The appetizers are a meal in and of themselves
Our appetizers, featuring mo'ajanat (pastry) and lots of fried goodness, form their own multi-course meal.
Leaving space for the main course is a real challenge. "Okay, last one," you tell yourself, before seeing the waiter serve fried kibbi.
4. Teta's mission: leave no mouth un-full
Trying to refuse food from people is on a league of its own when it comes to teta. You're never nourished enough when she's around. You will have breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert in a one-hour visit. It's inevitable.
5. It's not a meal if it doesn't have bread and rice
Want to go on a no carbs diet? Might as well deny your Arab heritage, and revoke your MENA passport if you have one.
Sometimes, we go the extra mile and add other sources of starch, like when we have a fries sandwich (really though, who came up with that?) or add potatoes to the stews we eat with a plateful of rice.
6. Snacks sponsored by the neighborhood dekkan
The dukkan/baqala is right around the corner so it's hard to resist buying some snacks on a regular basis. Plus, you're probably good friends with the owner who delivers your favorite chocolate bars to the luxury of your home without you even having to say Allo.
7. Arabic sweets ... enough said
Whether it's the creamy qashta or the sugary kater syrup, our finger-licking-good desserts deal a blow to our diets time and time again.