I need to be honest here: Judging is not a bad thing.
Before you begin writing hateful arguments in the comments, hear me out. Or read on, being that this is a written post and not oral…
Most people associate “judging” with racial discrimination and stereotyping. They think of the snobby class queen, casting the evil eye over anyone who passes her. Others may picture a judge, banging a gavel and giving a harsh sentence before the trial has begun. The result of all these is baseless hatred and unjustifiable cruelty.
However, judging, by definition, is “the cognitive process of reaching a decision or drawing conclusions.”
This is a skill we use every day.
- Choosing apples at the grocery store.
- Taking a shortcut while driving home.
- Picking an outfit to wear.
- Selecting a food from a restaurant menu.
These are all examples of judging, and how it can be a very positive thing. You discern the ripe fruits from the rotten. You opt for a faster route instead of getting caught in traffic. You pick clothes that best suit your style and what you are planning to do that day. By a restaurant, you make an order depending on how hungry you are, taking into account flavors you prefer and health or allergy restrictions (if applicable).
Judging is the tool you use when you make friends, pick a career, or a place to live. Why do you choose one person over the other? Maybe you have more in common with one, or he/she complements your personality. Why do you decide to pursue business studies instead of art? You account for your skills, interests, and practicality. For a home, you consider the location, price, and quality of living.
Without judging and the ability to decide, life would be confusing and painful. Imagine the most indecisive person you know and multiple that globally… painful, indeed.
That being said, judging is a neutral ability, meaning it can be used for the good and the bad. This is where the cognitive conclusion is drawn from improper sources, like race, gender, age, etc.
For example, my brother won’t eat quinoa. At first, it was because he had a finicky aversion to health food. (Shocking, I know.) This is a bad show of judging, since his source for his conclusion, being that he doesn’t like healthy-tasting food, and since quinoa is healthy he won’t like it, is flawed. It’s an unfair reason and a silly example of judging used in the wrong sense.
However, when he actually tried quinoa and found he didn’t like, this act of judging became positive. He tasted it and his sense of judging came to the conclusion he didn’t enjoy it. (He admits this result may have been psychological. More experiments need to be conducted…)
Therefore, if you read the title of this recipe and thought, “Asparagus? Kale? Quinoa? Wow, that is so healthy, it probably won’t taste good,” you are using your powers of judging for evil. You won’t know until you try it, and if you judge this recipe by the title, that is discrimination. Shame on you.
This is a recipe that utilizes nutritious ingredients for a filling and delicious soup, full of flavor, detoxing properties, and well… quinoa.
Hey bro, ready for another taste test?
Asparagus Kale Quinoa Soup
- 1 pound asparagus, chopped into 1-inch pieces (about 20 spears)
- 1 onion
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cups of water
- 1 tsp salt
- pinch of pepper
- 1 tsp basil
- 1 cup quinoa (I use a mix of white and brown.)
- 1 cup chopped kale
- Sauté the onion and garlic in the oil in a large pot until opaque.
- Add the asparagus, water, and spices.
- Bring the pot to a boil and then simmer for about 20 minutes.
- Puree the soup and adjust seasonings to taste.
- Add the quinoa and cook over medium-low heat until the quinoa is cooked, about 15 minutes.
- Add the kale and simmer for about 5 minutes until wilted.
- Serve hot.