Pregnant Woman Develops Sudden Craving for Roadkill. How the media love to ham it up. Want to know my side?
A recent story in the press about me has gone ballistic all over the internet!
Pregnant Woman Develops Bizarre Craving for Roadkill
As a result there have been many comments relating to these stories that have been quite abusive and unpleasant – mostly by people who do not question the media, believe everything they read and have a tendency to react before thinking.
An appetite for Feral Fusion – all good food if you know what you are doing!!
Now… I don’t mind the odd slating for being who I am, or doing what I do, and if being willing to put up with the odd verbal bashing means I get a chance to spark a reaction that can change the way people interact with the world… then I’ll keep doing it!
….but it does hurts a little when huge waves of hate and anger roll up on my shore due to deliberate misquoting and poor reporting in general – especially when aimed at my unborn child or my ability to be a good mother. These individuals don’t know me, or where I am coming from, or how careful I REALLY am!
Japanese Gyoza – Roadkill Dumplings!
I know, I know, “If you dance with the devil…” and all that, I’ll get what I deserve… Whatever!! I’ll continue to be the authentic me and take on the chin whatever comes at me! After all, it is only the ego that gets bruised by words. I will live my life as I see fit, hopefully inspire and encourage others to do the same. Let’s see where this dance with the media takes me – I have to question, ” is it all happening for a reason??” I hope so. Maybe lots of ‘good’ will come out of this – whatever ‘good’ is – question everything my friends.
The actual story goes kinda like this…
I was originally contacted by a UK news agency by email while I was doing a two month road trip in America recently. They saw me on “Come Dine With Me” (A UK TV show) and they wanted to do a follow up story. I said I would speak to them upon my return late October. It was an amazing 6000 mile road trip in an old VW camper. As always a culinary trip – although trying to avoid sugar and refined carbs was a bit tough. We love being in the States. Our trip included the iconic Burning Man Festival and eleven National Parks. Beautiful country and amazingly friendly people. God bless America!
Rocky Mountain Oysters – Bulls Testicles – Wyoming
It just happened that I was 5 months pregnant upon my return and extremely happy and the reporter jumped on that opportunity for a sensational story, despite my ‘very’ verbal reservations. The headlines have been along the lines of, “I have suddenly got cravings for roadkill”. In truth, many people know that I have been eating roadkill for years and I love it. Obviously they wanted to elaborate and say that my eating of traffic casualties was caused by pregnancy cravings! What tosh! Lol. …but it certainly made a great story – it has almost gone ‘viral’. Such a big reaction to little ol’ me and my little life!
I think I’m going to need a bigger BBQ! Roadkill Mule deer, Utah.
What exactly is in our meat… supermarket or otherwise?
My roadside culinary habits have been filled with much more caution if anything (of course the reporter knew that, but that’s boring news!) and my partner does the roadside examinations and butchery at the mo. I have been trying to conceive for some time and being an ‘older’ mum, taking every step I can to be super healthy – especially with regards to my diet. I’ve driven my friends nuts by being so fussy, lol. I do not take chances with my unborn child and despite other people’s ignorance in this matter, claiming that I am harming him, the truth is quite the contrary. Well chosen, roadkill is, without doubt, better than most supermarket meat and equal to the very best of (very expensive) meat in the shops.
When I can afford it, I only eat organic meat. Yes, that includes roadkill as I consider this free range food to be pesticide, growth hormone, antibiotic and cruelty free! Unlike most supermarket meat. I was misquoted in a way that made it sound like eating roadkill was unhealthy – which of course it isn’t, so long as know what you’re doing and have a good working knowledge of the animal you’re eating and any possible diseases it may carry. I have years of experience and if there is the slightest doubt as to whether it is not fresh or free of disease…I will not touch it! I am never too proud to refuse the advice and knowledge offered by someone who knows more than me!
(The proof of the pudding is that I’ve been doing this regularly for over five years and I’ve never had a funny tummy from any of the food from the road – and neither have my dinner party guests!).
The contestants on CDWM – Harrogate
Also, I would hardly have appeared on a UK TV show serving up gourmet roadkill to random dinner guests in front of six million viewers (first broadcasting) had I not had the confidence in what I was doing. My eating roadkill has hardly been a secret, however, I got much slating because the article didn’t mention that either. They just made it out to be a sudden thing – which made me sound like a silly ‘15 minutes of fame’ thrill seeker to the people who had already seen me on the telly! Pah!!
COME DINE WITH ME – ROAD-KILL THRILLS in HAIRY HARROGATE – 3 min clip!
Soooo…how do you know if a carcass is fresh and edible?
It is not only about how the animal looks and smells, whether the eyes are still in, how rigid the flesh is, whether the skin moves freely or whether its fleas have not yet abandoned a sinking ship! Body and touch temperature are not always a great indicator, because different global regions have different climates. Also, changes in weather can make a difference to what bugs are around and the speed of decomposition. Only pick up ‘clean’ hits that have ‘bounced’ to the side of the road. Then cut any bruised bits out – if any. Rupturing of the animal’s organs and any broken bones have to be taken into consideration too as these can taint / poison the meat.
Obviously, don’t pick up something thats been run over a couple of times!! It is essential to research the kinds of diseases certain wild animals can catch and what signs to look for.
… As you can see, you need to know what you’re doing, but it’s not rocket science!! If in doubt, ask someone else or leave it for something else to chow down on. Hopefully it will be eaten before numerous passing cars turn it into tarmac-jam!
I love my nomadic lifestyle. I am one of the freest people I know and eating wild food makes me feel more at one with the environment and not separate from it. I will share my knowledge with anyone who genuinely wants to learn more about living a simple life, appreciative of, and connected to, nature. I am very open and honest about my life choices. And here’s the bonus, if you’ve yet to recognise it – You don’t have to work nearly as hard in life to make so much taxable money to have a cosy home, clothe and entertain yourself and eat well and healthily – Now with the state of the world economy as it is – surely this is appealing to many of you!
Hey Ali, it’s Becky Peddie here (from Oakleaf! Part of the Northumbrian lot!)
You and I have talked before about this subject, and I think it’s shameful the way the media has portrayed this to be about your pregnancy. I grew up in a very, very rural area of western Illinois, (as I think I’ve mentioned to you!) and we subsisted almost entirely on wild meat. The local Sherrif kept a rota of whose “turn it was” to get a deer if one was hit on the road and the driver didn’t want it. ( Oh the giggles we locals got when we’d listen to the police scanners, and hear the horror in the voices of “townies” when they’d hit a deer and the policeman would ask “Are you interested in the meat? We maintain a list of good local butchers if you can’t clean it yourself.” LOL!) Not only did my parents teach me to hunt, fish, grow, preserve, sew, and repair everything I use and eat, I’ve always stopped for feathers and things from bird carcasses, and took great pride in the fact that my first pow wow outfit was feathered entirely from roadkill. So even if people aren’t eating it, there’s no reason why other parts of the animal can’t be used. I have a biology/game management degree and worked in zoos and veterinary clinics for many years, but my first work experience was picking up road kill for the county, and so I learned what’s good and bad firsthand, from experienced folk. I can say, hands down, IT IS NO DIFFERENT THAN FORAGING FOR FUNGI. Yes, you can get sick if you don’t know what you’re doing. BUT you can also get sick from improperly cooked “domestic store bought” meat if you don’t know what you’re doing too. The only reason I’m not in the habit of doing this now that I live here in the UK is because I’ve not had the time to properly educate myself on the laws regarding the practice, and the fact that I’m not as familiar yet with local fauna here as I obviously was in the area where I was raised. I’m 100% on your side. And if I can write to any news agencies expressing my disappointment in how they’ve portrayed this, please do let me know! I’ll step off my soapbox now! LOL!
Love,
The Expat Redneck! ;D