Connection, pleasure, sustenance.
These are a few of the very many things that preparing and sharing a meal can do for us.
Remember when going out to dinner with the family used to be a treat? Eating out used to be a once-in-awhile occurrence; now, our cultural norm suggests that we “don’t have time to cook” and we have found ourselves in a role-reversal relationship with food. We don’t have time to cook and we don’t have time to sit down and eat; we are too tired, too uninspired.
Instead, we find ourselves opting for something “quick and easy”, which often means hitting up the drive-thru of a fast food restaurant or ordering take-away on our way home from work. Full of chemicals, preservatives, fat, salt and sugar, the fast foods that most of us reach for are not only lacking in nourishment for our bodies, but for our souls as well. We seem to have forgotten what cooking at home really offers us: a chance to relax and enjoy the process while teaching our children important life skills; control what we are putting in our bodies, and practice healthy social habits such as engaging in conversation and opening up about our lives.
Eating is so intimate. It's very sensual. When you invite someone to sit at your table and you want to cook for them, you're inviting a person into your life. - Maya Angelou
Doesn't it take too much time to prep?
Many people claim they do not “have time” for meal preparation. Regardless of preferences for food, there are many easy ways to prep meats and vegetables for quick and delicious meals. All it takes is a couple hours, one day a week, to clean and cut up foods you can easily reach for all week. Need a snack? Have fresh vegetables sliced up and ready for munching or dipping. Need a meal? Choose your favourite meat(s) and vegetables, cut everything up and freeze it for a quick and easy stir fry – or just add bouillon and make a soup! Using FRESH whole foods helps to ensure that you receive the vitamins and minerals your body needs.
Is it worth it?
When you take the time to prepare a meal, you are showing gratitude toward yourself and others; you are WORTH the time and effort of nourishing your body in a healthy way. Your children and family members are WORTH that effort – and what this means is working smarter, not harder! Having the proper kitchen tools and supplies can make or break one’s desire to even step foot in the kitchen. If you know you have dull, crappy knives, that certainly will not be a motivator; if you are worried about cutting yourself because you are uncomfortable with the knives you have, that will not make it any easier to want to be in the kitchen. It is important to feel confident and in-control while working in the kitchen and the largest contributing factor to this is having the right tools for the job.
Fast food is no longer the inexpensive option it used to be. As the quality has gone down, prices have gone up. If you want the best value for your hard-earned money, choosing to put your resources towards fresh food and quality kitchen supplies will get you much farther in the long run. Investing in kitchen knives that you will be comfortable using every day for every task (for years!) is an investment that will pay off in no time.
AZ Custom Knives is an online store selling a variety of quality kitchen knives made with high grade stainless Damascus steel. We can also help if you are looking for your knife or blade to be sharpened or restored in Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Fairview, Edmonton and Dawson Creek, BC.