What’s for dinner tonight?
As our economy continues to advance, the hustle bustle of everyday life gets more challenging and aggravating. Working 9-5 and sitting in traffic all day is far from what many consider the American dream, yet many of us live it. After finally getting there we are too tired to take the time to plan a nutritious and power packed diet. Many resort to microwaved dishes or frozen pizzas, maybe even ramen depending on the budget. If you're lucky you may dine together with your family while you unwind from a long day in front of the TV. Or like many you feast on fast food regularly. According to Michael Pollen in his book The Omnivore's Dilemma “One in three children have fast food everyday” and “ 19% of all American meals are eaten in a car.” To that I am guilty as charged.
Looking back personally to my childhood and comparing it my eating habits now a lot has changed; as I've grown up and moved into the adult world. As a child I was blessed with a stay at home mother who would prep and cook homemade meals just about every night for my family. Just like the Pilgrims gathering around for thanksgiving dinner; my family would dine at the kitchen table and chatter about the day's events. It’s something I truly miss and now realize I took for granted. As a child I believe having these meals made my family bond stronger and made me healthier.
Fast forward to high school and boy have the times changed. Eating out with friends after work, or dining on meals from my works restaurant by myself when I get home; I have truly grown tiresome of. Not only that but eating out with friends just about every night is not a cheap expense. However the time is simply just not available for such wholesome family meals as it used to be. Taking us back a moment to the American dream, I do believe my childhood represented it with such good fortune as a home cooked meal and a mother with ample time to make it. I only wish that one day I can continue these family traditions with my kids until they simply do not have the time either.
Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore's Dilemma a Natural History of Four Meals. Penguin Books, 2016.
I had the same kind of dinners growing up. Even now we have "family dinners". It has slowly gotten less and less common in my house though. I agree with you're statement about the meals together made our bond stronger.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this because I was a waitress at a restaurant as well and I received 50% off my meal after a shift so I would always take advantage of that. As for high school, I can also say that finding time for family dinners were tough for my family. All 3 of us kids did sports and other activities so it was tough to make it work for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI also believe the family dinners you had as a child represent the American dream. I can relate to this and your time in high school when the family dinners stopped. I reminisce on the days of my childhood of home cooked meals and family time. As I get older I realize that time is less and less spent on these important things.
ReplyDeleteI never had meals around the table with my family. When I was young there were dinners made but everyone would grab their plate and go their seperate ways. I do think I missed out on that bonding time but I dont think it had much effect on me. Maybe i just dont know. I think family dinner is important and I will most likely enforce it when I become a parent.
ReplyDeleteOnce I left for college, the family meals that I used to be somewhat annoyed by mean a lot more to me as they were a lot more healthy
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