many think it takes a long time to cook a nice meal , such as rice, with vegetables or steam some fish fillet or boneless chicken…but if they knew HOW to do this maybe it would take so long?
how many these days, dont even know how to cook really? and when this became this way and why?
for example…the easiest and healthiest way to cook is using a "food steamer" where you steam vegetables or meat inside and also, using things like a "Rice cooker"..etc..it doesnt take NO TIME hardly to cut up vegetables and throw them in and turn the button to steam them..and you can fool with the kids or do other chores in mean time.
why people dont do this,,as it is MUCH healthier?
please explain and describe your views or opinions on the above.
thanks for your answers!
Cupcake's Princess - said
April 15 2010 @ 16:00
While I do think that there is a large number of people who don’t know how to cook, I also think there are people who don’t want to cook (don’t enjoy it, or aren’t good at it, or are exhausted when they get in the door from work). I also think that steamed dinners night after night is pretty boring.
We eat a variety of foods, not all of which lend themselves to steaming. I get home from work between 6:00 and 6:30, and cook dinner at home from scratch almost every night. We don’t usually eat dinner until around 7:30, sometimes later. I like to bake chicken, and roast vegetables rather than being confined to steamed fish and steamed vegetables. I sometimes do prep work ahead of time. For example, my husband is home today, so I prepped a lamb roast for him to put in the oven to be done about the time I get home. We’re having a stuffed meatloaf tomorrow, so I already made that. The pan just needs to go in the oven when I get home. We’ll have roasted potatoes, turnips and carrots with the lamb, and that will take a while, even if the meat is done when I get home. Mashed potatoes are the favorite with meatloaf, so they will take some time to peel and boil.
You’re right that some dinners are quick and easy, and healthy. But, not everyone wants to do that,or can do that. Some people can’t afford to buy fresh foods. Others have schedules with kids’ activities or volunteer activities such that they really don’t have time to cook a fresh meal from scratch a good lot of the time. I do what I can to be sure my husband and I eat healthily, but I don’t judge others whose circumstances are different from mine.
Milky-Joe - said
April 15 2010 @ 16:00
Im having kebab for dinner. Suck on THAT!
Kellie - said
April 15 2010 @ 16:00
Heeeeeeeeey
I am a 14 year old vegetarian whose parents are very hard working people, they both come home each evening at about 6pm and then they still make time to make sure me and my brother get a nutritional meal. Some days, yeah we have a ready meal but that is because my parents have had meetings after work etc. Some days I cook for my self because, I have learnt these skills from my mum and dad and also from school
I think people who survive on take aways and on ready meals constantly are lazy.
Danny K - said
April 15 2010 @ 16:00
people dont like to be told what to eat, or be patronised either
Sassy - said
April 15 2010 @ 16:00
You don’t need fresh veg anyway – this is a myth. Fresh frozen is arguably better and needs no preparation. A healthy chicken or fish stew can be placed in a slow cooker. Like you say, it’s more about not being able to cook properly, rather than a lack of time. It’s such a shame really.
JJH - said
April 15 2010 @ 16:00
I don’t think it is as much time as it is cost. Think about this, a family of five can eat your random box meal chock full of junk, fat and preservatives for around $1.50-$2.25 per person. A healthy meal is going to cost at least double that. It is just a sad fact. The cheaper foods are not as healthy, probably why welfare recipients and lower middle class families have a higher percentage of weight and health issues. Convenience and cost have taken the place of healthy.
LolaRose - said
April 15 2010 @ 16:00
I think it all started with the women’s liberation. Equal rights and all that stuff. Oh to be a housewife in the 1950′s… I would make a great one. Women want to do everything like the men do. Yeah well that’s all fine and dandy, but women can do all the things women can do too, right? Ok I’m not saying that it should be just women cooking and cleaning, its about "equal rights" the wives can get a meal cooked by their husbands every now and then.
Oh and the shopping thing. The prices on the healthier food are higher so that you eat smaller servings and eat less overall. Spend more on healthier food like lean meats, veggies, fruit, whole grains and dairy, so on and so forth; then you won’t have as much money left for the junk food. Its all about sacrifices. Hey and if you want junk food, make it from scratch. If you can read, you can cook, and you will get more servings for the money if you make your goodies from scratch. If you don’t understand all the cooking terms in one cookbook, then there are books that can tell you what it all means. I don’t think time is really an issue either. If you even get one day off from work, then you can prepare and freeze all of your meals for the week. There are even dining establishments with healthier options. Not in your neck of the woods? Move to Austin, TX.
ginas - said
April 15 2010 @ 16:00
Well for me, it’s lack of time that prevents me from cooking healthy all the time. I know how to cook very well actually. You have to shop 2 or 3 times a week to keep fresh vegetables handy. I don’t have time to run to the store twice a week.
Gemma F - said
April 15 2010 @ 16:00
I congratulate you on doing this food survey – nice cheap way of doing it, isn’t it!
People know how to cook – it’s just that they WON’T bother
Lorakeet - said
April 15 2010 @ 16:00
I agree, if you know HOW to cook something then it takes a lot less time.
I suppose it is still quicker to put something in a microwave than cook from scratch – even if that thing doesnt take long time it still will take longer than setting the microwave and opening a box
Also, for someone like me, having a food steamer or any kind of food preperation machine like a food processor or blender or anything like that is too expensive, I only have a stove, oven, microwave, and my own hands to cut with and stuff. Sometimes a really easy recipe says to add something like garlic, and it takes me about 20 minutes to cut the garlic fine enough, so it would help if the person actually had the equipment needed in the first place, if they don’t, an easy meal becomes a hell of a lot harder.
I try to cook from scratch as much as I can – really once something is under a grill or boiling in a pot or whatever you don’t have to do much, but all the same, it is still always easier to just throw something into the microwave, or get one of those oven cook pre made meals.