Mr. Cheeseburger For the past 2 months, I’ve been eating dinner at home, cooking for myself, (I’m not great but learning). The only exception is when I’m having dinner with friends. When I cook, the food tends to be healthier and better tasting. I avoid the greasy and fatty foods because I don’t know how to make those types of food. And lately I’ve been very picky about what I buy at the supermarkets. I tend to spend more on better food whereas in college, I got the cheapest food available, which was usually unhealthy.
This past Sunday, NY Times Magazine ran an article titled “Why Take Food Seriously?” The title peaked my interest and after reading it, I noticed the correlation between the article’s content and the way I’ve been eating and buying food the past few months. It gave a quick historical progression of food and its transformation, from fast food to focusing on cooking and health again. The article also stated that people now have become selective of food and look at it as something to be savored, not something quick and cheap.
Have Americans become more conscious about cooking and enjoying food? Or are they still inclined to go out to eat whenever possible? Do you take eating food seriously?
Comments (17)
Food is not that serious to me. I could take it or leave it. I prefer healthy home cooked meals over fast food any day. However, there are days where I am just extremely stressed and tired and it is just easier to grab something quick. When I do this, I am careful to select something more healthy. It is an extremely rare occassion that I will grab something like Taco Casa (so much better than Taco Hell) for my family. I do find myself grabbing a lot of pre-sliced veggies for salads and such or going to restaraunts that serve healthier foods.
what exactly do you mean by taking food seriously. I cook whenever I can, but I have a very busy schedule, so I might eat out every now and then.
I would be more serious about food if healthy food wasn't so expensive. I can barely afford rent, let alone high-priced groceries. However, I do what I can. I'll opt for lean cuts of meat, whole wheat grains, low-fat, low-sodium, low-sugar anything, even if it means spending a little more. I cook most of the time, but I allow myself to splurge on eating out or fast food now and then too.
Yeah I'd say I take it pretty serously. I'm really sensative to what I ear. It can either sap me of my energy and leave me dead or give me lots of energy. Sugar usually makes me feel bad but not tired. stuff like that.
I think a lot of people are becoming more conscious about how they eat for many reasons- the movement towards organic/local food, the rising prices, and being more aware of health issues. I think it's a slow movement back to the kitchen, and that's great! I only wish that more high schools had cooking classes, I definitely would've taken them.
To answer the last question, I take food very seriously, but then I am a chef-in-training. The thing I would most like to teach other people is that homemade food can be much cheaper, more nourishing, and tastier than anything you can get in a restaurant.
definitly
i try not to take life overly seriously.
eating good food is important, but it shouldn't be an obsession.
but maybe being raised on mostly home cooked meals of whole grains, soy, veggies & only lean meats makes me take food "seriously"? i did know what quinoa, millet, tempeh, etc. were when i was 7, and i would eat them too LOL
heh, i eat whatever i feel like eating =P
Well, I think we only slightly forgot that food's something to be savored.
I think now that the economy's kinda...um...not so good.
Not being able to eat out as often as people used to be able to, they've more time to think about their food and what they're eating.
People still really love fast food...and people will always eat whatever they feel like eating.
But I think us Americans have taken a double take.
Do I take eating food seriously? Hmm. Well, I like to think I'm laid back about my food and but I do purposefully take time out to enjoy it. I don't eat alot of processed stuff, or pre-made things (like frozen pizzas)...and I hardly eat out because my family is NOT well-off.
I actually just like alot of food that is good for you and naturally gravitate toward picking an apple over some chips from a can of pringles.
I think it was how I was raised. *shrugs*
Probably helps I don't much like sugar and never had a sweet tooth for anything besides chocolate and fruit.
sometimes. i'll eat fast food once in a while (when i don't have time to cook dinner). studying for mid-terms triumphs being food concious :)
I hate eating healthy. I will be the FIRST to admit it. I'm not as bad about it as I used to be though, and that makes me happy. I would rather eat a salad than a burger any day, only because red meat just grosses me out raw or cooked I just can't look at it.
I do try when we eat out to get the more nutritious and better for you foods, and sometimes I just let myself have whatever I want, it just depends.
if you eat a burger king #1 over a *1 at MacDonald: you are eating 10 percent less fat.
Yet if you eat a nuggets 8 or 10 section meal at MacDonald without a combo meal and drink water and tea; you lose 80 percent less fat then anything else at MacDonald on the menu or burger king menus.
Burger King also used Druba for their pickles making it more healthy.
So buy a 10 section meal of nuggets and eat Burger King pickles for a good meal. Costs a little more; but its healthy. I use honey mustard too since it is good for your eyes......
given the household i grew up in i do take food seriously. when i was younger yea i used to eat all that fast food and stuff all the time but as i grew older i learned that it's important to eat healthy because it'll start affecting you sooner or later. plus i feel better physically and mentally when i eat healthy...it's just hard when you're constantly on the go and don't have the time or energy to cook, plus everything in the supermarkets is already prepackaged and made for you, so it is easy to say why bother. but yea, people are definitely starting to become more conscious of what they eat.
I believe we are taking a step in the right direction. I think eating out in moderation is reasonable, but I know for myself I prefer something I have made. I put time, effort and love into my meals. To nourish myself. I think better ingredients consist of organic produce, hormone free meats and dairy, whole grains, nuts/seeds, & items without added sugars if possible. I know I personally feel better when I eat better.
that plate of food looks delicious
I take food seriously. I try to eat every meal mindfully.
eat what you want, mannnn. you're gonna die anyways! you might as well die a fun way. maybe you wanna die skin and bones, having avoided food the last 4 months of your life. or possibly, die of an overdose on pastries, cookies and cupcakes.
<3 happy holidays!