In this age of the bulging belly, there is a lot of talk about eating simply–less processed food, more grown close to home, less meat, less period. It's easy to lose sight of how completely that most basic of human preoccupations, eating, has been transformed over my lifetime.
Take dining out. In Potsdam in the early '60s, the choices were diner, steakhouse, pizza, or that newcomer on the scene, the sub. Franchise chains were in their infancy. You could drive to Massena for Dairy Queen, Ogdensburg for A&W, or Carrol's (now BK) in Potsdam. Steakhouse was a rare occasion. Dad had steak; Mom had chicken; the kids had spaghetti. If you wanted Chinese, you could drive to Canada or Watertown. If you wanted Mexican, you could drive to Texas. And if you wanted Thai, no one had any idea what they ate in Siam.
Take shopping and eating in. Salad used to be iceberg lettuce, hardwood tomatoes and some variety of Kraft dressing. Sandwiches–squishy white bread, or squishy brown bread. Any cheese you want as long as it was American. For fruit–except for a couple weeks a year–apples or bananas. Tea was black, coffee was instant, and milk was milk. At snacktime, there were potato chips, only potato, plus grease and salt. Soda was 7 ounces in a heavy glass bottle. There was cola; there was root beer; there was ginger ale. There were candy bars, chewing gum and popsicles.
We didn't have to think too much about it. We were simply eating. But now our choices are so numerous as to constitute a burden, one we bear upon our waistbands. Eating is now a consuming passion, and little about it can be called simple anymore.
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Dale,
You have hit the nail on the head;we eat like there is no tomorrow and suffer the consequences of eating more than we need. Our bodies are not able to withstand the assault and breakdown; diabetes, heart disease, cancer
Is it any wonder why the costs for health care are bankrupting our nation?
as to constitute a burben, one we bear upon our waistbands.
huh?
Sorry–that should, or course, have been "burden." Bourbon also winds up on the waistband, but that's the least of its problems.
"If you wanted Chinese, you could drive to Canada or Watertown. If you wanted Mexican, you could drive to Texas." Spot on!
Simply eating, people can't believe that it is possible to make a very simple, nutritious, filling and inexpensive meal from 4 servings of vegetables (2 cups), a slice of whole grain bread topped with a half cup of cottage cheese mixed with your herb of choice and a piece of fruit if you have any room left. I love to cook but don't always have the time so this is my emergency meal. I have variations on this using peanut butter, hummus, etc. but none take over 5 minutes to prepare or cost more than $2. You can't get "fast food" this fast even if you live next door to the restaurant/store.
I can remember eating out in the 50's and 60's… simple, yes, but also BORING!
An Italian restaurant was exotic…now one doesn't have any excuse not to eat healthy…if you have no time, a cup of soup and a wrap from Nature's Storehouse will keep body and soul together.