When i was a kid i used to wonder why old people didn't seem to mind eating fruit covered in bruises, or horrible looking food in general. Like, maybe they were brought up to be less picky or something. Now i realise its because they literally can't see anything that close to their face
My dad was a bugger for eating offal; liver was par for the course, but Lamb's hearts was pretty revolting as he'd microwave them and stunk out the house with the resulting stench.
his kitchen sounds like a horror movie
My dad came from a generation of people who ate whatever was put in front of them mainly because they probably couldn't get anything posher. Plus he spent time in army, folks tend to pick up some revolting eating habits in there.
I thought it was because they figured bruised fruit hadn’t been processed and spray painted to look shiny. Or maybe because they actually picked one off a tree and knew what fruit looks like.
The great depression taught that generation to never waste anything. They repaired things, rather than toss it and buy new. They learned how to pinch a penny. My mother could squeeze more out of a dollar than anyone else I knew.
It is knowing that the fruit has had a long battle and is now too weak to fight back because it too is infirm and damaged.
Not only that, but my gramps has THEE WORST takes on food safety I've ever heard. Good thing he's retired. I would never let him work in my kitchen.
It's also about knowing how expensive this stuff is, and not to waste it because it has a cosmetic flaw!
They just grew up in a time before people decided to show their whole end stage capitalist ass and throw away all the produce that is 'too ugly to sell'.