Thoughts For Food

There’s a conversation going on over at metafilter about how people cook and eat in this country.

Like having a short commute, the ability to eat well is a privilege. It’s not just about having the money and access to purchase fresh produce and other healthy ingredients, it’s also about having the time to cook them in appealing ways.

I live in a co-op with six other people. We’re each able to put aside a few hours each week to make a fresh meal, and the rest of the week we’re treated to the same. I’m not sure I can really describe in words how wonderful an experience this has been. I’m eating healthier than I ever have in my life. And the few hours a week when it’s my turn to cook are special, enjoyable, and I can pour my creativity and my affection for my roommates into a meal that’s healthy, delicious, and economical.

Last night my roommate Molly made us two different kinds of veggie lasagna, and cherry pie. On Tuesday Bergey made us an awesome chickpea curry. On Sunday Katie made us lemongrass soup. I’m not sure what I’m making for my day, I was thinking maybe vegan quiche or falafel sandwhiches or maple corn fritters?

In addition to the variety and quality of the food, cooking and eating as a large group is also cheaper. We’re able to buy most of our groceries in bulk without worrying about them going bad, and the cost of a CSA share (which usually has to be paid upfront) split seven ways is pretty negligible.

Most people don’t live in co-ops, though. Most people don’t live in households with more than two adults and frequently in those nuclear family homes there’s one person who shoulders the bulk of the cooking. So they’re left with a frustrating choice: cook a few big meals and reheat the same thing every day for a week, or somehow carve half an hour out of every day to prepare and serve three decent meals. No wonder so many people choose fast food.

I’m not sure how I’m going switch back if I ever leave this co-op. It makes me a little despondent that more people don’t have a set up like this. If people really got to know and trust their neighbors, you could share cooking between two or three households and get the same effect. But I can’t remember the last time I knew my neighbors that well.

I don’t mean to preach my way of living to others. I know that for every person who wistfully thinks about organizing a cooking co-op on their block there’s at least one more who’d much rather figure food out for themselves. But it seems like a shame that more people don’t have this option, because I haven’t even talked about the best part of our set up: it’s not the food itself, or the savings in time and energy, but the warm fuzzy feeling that comes from sitting down each night with your housemates and friends as a temporary family.

And to that end, you all should consider yourselves invited over for dinner.