If you have an itch for a certain type of food, the Zealop will help you scratch it. This restless, ravenous monster thrives on our most eccentric food desires and helps us act on our hidden cravings. The more unique, the more it enjoys it.
A midnight slice of pizza, ice cream breakfast, or a curious combination of hashbrowns, peanut butter, gherkin and cream cheese. Zealops are attuned to our innermost desires and can magnify these wants into a powerful force which we cannot resist.
I first encountered a Zealop at a friend’s house during her pregnancy. It was clear - judging on what she had been cooking recently - the Zealop was. When I arrived, it was an anchovy, cheese and marmite taco with pesto dipping sauce. It was... interesting.
The creature absorbs our desires through its balloon-like tendrils atop its head. It then releases those desires to create a sudden, overpowering urge to fulfil them. It is all-too-eager to swipe food from the plate to sample itself and taste its weird concoction.
I found myself swept up with curiosity about the monster and welcomed it to my home. Its presence soon became contagious, and the wild food combinations and snacks were welcome. Soon, I found myself swept up in a tide of persistent snacking, and it was not long before I was no longer able to discern which cravings were truly mine and which were the Zealop’s doing.
The monster seemed to encourage endless indulgence, and I used to 'blame' it for doing son. However, I learned the monster had slipped away, likely some time ago. It was my cravings and impulses driving my latest food binge. Zealop had likely become bored with the same sugary and savoury treats I was consuming and went off in search of a more creative combination.
This experience taught me a vital lesson: while external forces may spark the flame of temptation, the responsibility for feeding those cravings lies within ourselves. It can also be easy to blame consumption on an external force, like a Zealop, but in reality, we are in control.
By acknowledging this, I learned to take ownership of my choices rather than casting blame on the Zealop. I also needed to recover from my weeks of sugary treats. I shifted my focus toward nourishing, wholesome and unprocessed foods, the Zealop returned, adapted, and eagerly helped me (then helped itself) to a new range of healthier culinary adventures! As the Zealop joined me in this more balanced diet, I noticed her spots slowly vanishing; maybe the Zealop, too, craves a balanced diet.
Ultimately, the Zealop reminds us that our food cravings—wild or mild—are ours to command. They can be fun, but we must be mindful not to let our appetite get the best of us by chasing every whim.