Yesterday, my husband bought me a new kind of whole wheat bread, since our local supermarket’s brand of whole wheat bread stopped carrying kosher certification. Another nearby supermarket has a kosher bakery, which sells sliced whole wheat bread, so my husband bought that one. Since it is made in the bakery, it is fresher and doesn’t have preservatives. It also happens to have sunflower, sesame and poppy seeds on the crust, giving it a more rustic taste—very different from the doughy, soft whole wheat bread I had gotten in the past, which was loaded with preservatives.
The main reason I wanted whole wheat bread was so I could prepare peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for snack like I did when I was pregnant. Then, and now, as I am breastfeeding, I find peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to be a convenient and effective source of fuel.
When my husband brought home the new kind of whole wheat bread, I soon realized it was not compatible with my usual go-to of peanut butter and grape jelly. Initially, I was disappointed that this bread wouldn’t suit its purpose. Then, this morning, an idea came to mind: grape jelly doesn’t go with this bread like it did with the other, but peanut butter still does! And almond butter would go even better!
That is when I realized that my new type of whole wheat bread was being a good influence on the kind of sandwich I would make! A healthier, fresher bread, inspired a healthier sandwich overall.
There is a saying in Jewish teachings that a person is influenced by their neighbors—good or bad. It seems like this applies to food choices too!
