- As more details emerge about Russia's ban on Western food imports, Russians are trying to imagine a future without them.
Will it be like this Soviet-era cornucopia of fresh fruit and vegetables? … - … or like the dystopian world of Suzanne Collins' best-selling novels and the blockbuster movies based upon them?
- With people still on the fence about what to expect, it's good to know Russian plants, at least, are rallying. "In response to the sanctions, the strawberries have decided to yield a second crop," one Twitter user deadpanned.
- Another user posted this picture of his favorite Western food, Camembert cheese, saying he would not forgive President Vladimir Putin if it ended up on the list of banned products.
- Still, others were quick to point out the benefits of banning Western food imports — even though the claim that sanctions would be good for everyone's health may just be a bit tongue-in-cheek.
After all, the traditional Russian котлеты (cutlets) with pale mashed potatoes can hardly offer more vitamins than the crossed-out burger next to it. - As ever, in times of deprivation, keeping up morale is key. Which is why this Twitter user resorted to quoting a traditional rhymed slogan used by anyone from hunger strikers to those on a diet: "While we're [still] eating, we're not winning."
- So how should Russians prepare for the future? Subscribing to a gardening magazine with a cover story on parsnips certainly wouldn't hurt.
- And while claims that the future of Azbuka Vkusa (a supermarket chain with a heavy focus on imported goods) looks like this may be exaggerated …
- … hearing black-market dialogues like this one may not be:
- Do you have any mussels?
- Yes.
- Good lord, from where? Usually, there aren't any.
- From Belarus.
- But in Belarus …
- FROM BELARUS.
- Ah, gotcha. 15 Belarussian mussels, please. - All in all, Instagram — which is hugely popular in Russia — may be where the effects of the food import ban will be most visible.
Traditionally used by foodies to post pictures of delicious-looking treats tagged #foodporn, it may soon be awash with images like the brown-greyish combination of meat and buckwheat pictured in this meme captioned "Russian Instagram, 2015."









