Tofu nuggets are one of the few things in this world that bring me joy. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I would love to show my deep gratitude for these tofu nuggets.

As a newly reformed vegetarian, the options at Barnumbia are fairly simple, consisting of chickpea stews, rice, and many, many, different types of tofu. One that particularly appeals to me is the tofu nuggets. A couple days ago, I went to Ferris after already using a meal swipe at Hewitt and then realizing there were no vegetarian options besides some mixed vegetables. Then there they were, the lovely tofu nuggets, glazed in orange sauce, a supposed substitute for the classic Chinese-American dish of orange chicken. Of course, as a nutrient deprived, anemic vegetarian, I dove right in. I’ve always wondered what process the dining hall workers have gone through to create these lovely creations. They do not have the texture of normal tofu, nor do they really taste that much like tofu. They instead have an oddly mushy texture on the inside, but on the outside, a crunchy (but in all actuality stale) crust surrounding it. What a wonderful day to not eat meat! And because of the wonderful things the tofu nuggets do for me, I would love to dedicate an acrostic poem to it. 

T otally new food group

O nly girl in the world

F lipping awesome alternative to meat

U nbelieveably mushy

N ever going to eat anything else again

U will be shocked when you try them

G reen is the color I would describe as this tofu because

G reen is my second favorite color

E ating this tofu brings me a lot of joy

T ell everyone that tofu nuggets are vastly underappreciated

S aving grace of Barnumbia dining halls

As I look back on my time with these tofu nuggets, I reminisce on a time when used to eat tofu for fun and not as a necessity. I wonder if this necessity has created a bond between myself and the tofu nuggets, making me blind to the truth behind them. These nuggets might have brainwashed my mind, but honestly, I don’t want to go back. 

Tofu Nuggets via Jessica Tsang