"eating is an agricultural act" --Wendell Berry, The Pleasures of Eating

Farewell, family meal? Stress of cooking may outweigh benefits

This article discusses the downfalls associated with family dinners, or slow food. Cooking is an added pressure many families are attempting to eliminate from their daily responsibilities. Parents are under the assumption that if they do not meet all food-need expectations (i.e mitigating nutrition-linked health issues), the stress of a home-cooked meal outweighs the benefits. Even for families that can afford to purchase fresh produce and proper cooking supplies, they do not have the necessary time in their busy schedules to make a meal from scratch. Many believe family dinners to be romanticized, and they forget that making food has always required effort and planning. This article briefly notes that family dinners are about so much more than just nutrition. They are about joining together, as a unit, talking, and being with each other. The pressures associated with dinner time: lack of time, saving money, coordinating schedules, and satisfying picky eaters, may seem like a hindrance, but overcoming these troubles is well worth it in the end. This is the only time many families are given to be together, and it is a time that should be cherished, even if it cannot be achieved every single day of the week.

This article reminded me of the Waters piece we discussed regarding the ethics of eating. As discussed in class, in addition to added nutritional value, slow food should be a priority amongst families. Through food preparation and the physical process of sitting down and eating, parents are able to teach their children values and skills, while opening up discussions and bonding moments. Eating should be an experience, rather than an obligation, and it should be one in which pleasure is gained.

4 Comments

  1. prithvi

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  2. Lakshyaiasacademy

    nice article thank’s for sharing this information, this article is very helpful….

  3. Art Attackk

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  4. Jessica Hejny

    Great discussion, Amanda!

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