Reply #22: You would be surprised at how many people don't know how to cook.

[eilen]

Honestly, many young women (not to just isolate and highlight women, but many are still head of household and/or in charge of the family's food pantry and grocery shopping) do not know how to cook. One young lady I met at a job I worked years ago was inordinately impressed by another coworker's leftover lunches. "How did you know how to make that?" was a constant question. It turns out that she and her family ate take-out and McD's outside of the once in awhile spaghetti dinner or home prepared frozen dinners (frozen chicken patties, fried chicken, hamburgers etc.). It was not a surprise the entire family was obese.

My friend explained to her she learned how to make these different dishes growing up in an impoverished farm home. They didn't have the money for prepared foods at the supermarket. She gave her a few recipes for her casseroles. Also, I'd like to point out that this young lady was working in the lowest paid position in the clinic.

Teaching people how to cook everyday food, everyday budget meals is the key to increasing the participation at farmer's markets and healthier diets. Teaching people that there are choices and how far you can go with some choices over others is very liberating. My brother's gf grew up in an relatively poor minority neighborhood in Detroit and her cooking is reminiscent of that background. Much of what she makes is fried or heavy with high fat content. However, even there, she only cooks at home (prepares and eats) three days a week . She works 4 days a week and attends graduate classes on the 5th day. In the past 4 years she has literally gained 100 pounds.

To be sure, when I grocery shop for a family of three and am purchasing enough food for a week; I mostly hit the produce, dairy and meat aisles and barely every purchase frozen or prepared foods. My grocery bill is almost always over $125 easily. When I shop at Aldi's it is a bit lower but then I do have to compromise on food quality (chicken breasts are processed and many times they do not have what it is I need for my menu meals).

For people who are stuggling with planning meals with healthy ingredients and feel that they lack time in to prepare healthful meals, please check out Leanne Ely's Saving Dinner books--she even has one that outlines simple meal preparation techniques for those that grew up eating out of takeout boxes. She has a subscription service that gives you seasonal appropriate meal plans every week that caters to your general palate called Menu Mailers. I receive the Lo-Carb menu but you can utilize any menu once subscribed. It is very rare to have any meal take longer than 15- 20 minutes of prep time. Last night I had a Chicken CrockPot with peppers and tomatoes, the night before we had a Cajun Pork dish. Each week has a crock pot meal and a fish based meal. She also has vegetarian menu mailers. Each provides a shop list and suggestions for breakfast and lunches. It takes at least 2 hours of planning off my to do list. She also has an email newsletter. I highly recommend her stuff. Saving Dinner Usual disclaimers apply.