Abstract Using food and meals as a basis of approach to a subject establishes almost instant relatability. It can lead to amazing insights, but with the power of this insight comes an equally powerful ability to form cruel judgments and even create myth. Such is the case with Howard Hughes and his compulsive activity regarding meals, especially the size and quantity of the peas served with his customary meal. Although undiagnosed, Hughes exhibited signs of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) through much of his life, with stories of his battles with mental illness ranging from truth to fiction. Hughes’ story shows how a meal practice can be used to shock and malign when such common practices deviate from our norms. This article examines Hughes and his obsession with peas in order to explore how nonstandard actions undertaken as part of a unifying activity—such as food consumption—can be susceptible to sensationalism and myth creation.

中文翻译：

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带有狂热一面的牛排：追寻霍华德·休斯 (Howard Hughes) 和他对豌豆的痴迷的真实故事

摘要 使用食物和膳食作为研究主题的基础几乎可以立即建立相关性。它可以带来惊人的洞察力，但伴随着这种洞察力的力量，同样强大的能力可以形成残酷的判断，甚至创造神话。霍华德·休斯 (Howard Hughes) 和他在进餐方面的强迫行为就是这种情况，尤其是在他惯常进餐时，豌豆的大小和数量。尽管未被确诊，休斯在他一生的大部分时间里都表现出强迫症 (OCD) 的迹象，他与精神疾病作斗争的故事从真实到虚构。休斯的故事表明，当这种常见的做法背离我们的规范时，用餐习惯是如何被用来震惊和诽谤的。