You Are What You Slurp

I am a soup connoisseur, I love soups. You might ask why I love soups… well soups are interesting, each soup has its own characteristics, distinct texture, aroma, flavor, and personality, and no soups are entirely alike. And in my soup adventure, I came to realize that soups and people have a lot of things in common. Let me tell you why…

Based on the research done by Brian Wansink, who has done a study that links soup choices to personality types at the University of Illinois, he states that “you not only are what you eat, but you also are what you slurp”.

According to Brian "The foods we eat do say a lot about who we are as people.”

The “Soup Personality Type” was based on 1,003 adult subjects who were surveyed to assess their opinions on soup products; they finally came up with four popular soups these are - chicken noodle, tomato, minestrone and vegetable. These soups represent the personality and lifestyle of the people consuming them.

If you have a craving for chicken noodle soup, you scored high on the church-going scale, are fond of pets, and are more likely to be stubborn and less likely to be outdoorsy. Chicken noodle soup represents the comforting ambiance of the home, because you usually eat chicken noodle soup in the comforts of your own home. This soup nourishes the body, and church going people want to nourish their souls. Most of the respondents said that this soup made them feel better about themselves, and more than half of the respondents said, chicken noodle soup made them feel better when sick, just as mom would have wanted it.

Minestrone originally an Italian soup, represent people who are physically fit, nutritionally conscious, family spirited, unlikely to own a pet and also on a restricted diet. This is probably because minestrone is mainly composed of carbohydrates (an energy source) – pasta / rice / barley and the vegetables that are in season. It is a healthy energy soup. A very humble dish and was intended for everyday consumption. Minestrone represent people who enjoy life, there’s even a song entitled “Life is Minestrone” which has a lively melody sung by the 1975 band 10cc who started the “pop” genre.

The vegetable soup person on the other hand is a homebody at heart, less likely to be a world traveler, less likely to be spontaneous and more likely to read family and home magazines. If you would notice the world “vegetable” used in a clinical setting it would mean someone who doesn’t or couldn’t move a lot or is not mobile. This is probably due to certain health or environment conditions or simply because of choice, a choice for a peaceful life in harmony with nature specifically with vegetables. It does not necessary mean vegetable people are dull; they just prefer to be a little reserved compared to that of the minestrone and tomato soup people.

Tomato soup lovers, are the more adventurous type, more social able, and also tended to enjoy books and pets. This is probably due to the old name of the tomato which came from the Nahuatl language – tomatl, the scientific name which is lycopersicum, which means “wolf-peach", “wolf-fruit”, “wolf-apple” in English. The word, the creature – Wolf, gives the “ohm” on adventure, a nomad who travels with fellow wolves.

Soups according to Brian are one of the comfort foods, and comfort foods are defined as "soothing and satisfying foods" that provide a source of emotional balance during times of stress and turmoil. Yes, there are other “sweet” comfort foods, but these gives the respondents a “stressed out” feeling due to the caloric intake. Unlike with soups wherein consumers "feel least guilty eating" in times of stress or unhappiness or sickness, because they tend to mirror childhood memories that seem to meet the "mom" taste standard of "being good for you."

Now you may wonder which soup is the best among the four... Well, the answer is – none. It depends on the consumer who delightfully consumes the soup. It doesn’t matter what type of soup you are, what matters is that if you are a chicken noodle soup, accept that you are a chicken noodle soup, and be the best chicken noodle soup in the feast. The same applies with people, with a person. You can not be an Arthur or a Brian if you are born and made as a Peter. Arthur can not be better than Peter and Peter can not be better than Arthur. Accept that you are Peter and be the best Peter that you can be. You can not be an American if you are born a Filipino, accept that you are a Filipino and celebrate your race. Appreciate who you are and discover your strengths and weaknesses.

You don’t need to be a different kind of soup; you don’t need to be someone else. As a chicken noodle soup, minestrone, vegetable soup, or a tomato soup you serve a purpose in this world. You serve that purpose in this world by being the best of who you are. Bring to boil your waters so that your flavor will be relished by people who hunger for your presence, knowledge, expertise and wisdom.