You Are Where You Stop To Eat

Where and what we eat shapes us.  I’m not talking about those little love handles.  I’m talking about the handle we have on what we eat and where we eat it. Perhaps you are a believer of convenience and you eat mainly out of a to-go box. Or maybe you’re a farm-raised person who eats exclusively organic foods. I think most lie somewhere in the middle, hoping to eat well and occasionally enjoying a crisp chicken nugget. Either way, it’s mindfulness that wins in the end. Knowing what you stand for and where you are standing when it comes to food is an important beginning.

The birth of the 5-cent hamburger was in 1921. White Castle perfected the quick, juicy burger and thus fast food was born. Today there are more Olive Gardens than herb gardens out there. For most, there is a need for speed.  A soccer game to rush off to or a lunch break that is too short. I get it, quicker and easier has value. But what do you sacrifice in the long run? Is bigger and faster really better?  That’s what I invite you to explore. 

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Try the plump bright red heirloom tomato over some Heinz ketchup. You may pay a little extra for a savory potato gratin over greasy french fries. But to create food quality often takes time. Time to grow. Time to prepare. Time to enjoy. Oftentimes, people don’t think they can afford the luxury of a full-meal experience and a quick fix seems to be the only answer. I tell you it does not have to be.

I too am a busy mom. I have two children under the age of 4, my husband works 90 hours a week and I am constantly moving. Trying to keep my kids’ day full of fun and laughter, my coffee cup filled with java, my marriage love-filled, our meals full of delicious healthy ingredients and my son’s diaper full of air instead of poop is a challenge. At times, I am too rushed in the morning to make and pack our meals. On these days I find myself eating out, kids and all. Searching the streets for something delicious, healthy and fresh with an empty stomach tests my commitment every time. It takes extra effort to find the “foodie gems” rather than settling for the overstuffed chain eateries with gluttonous advertising budgets. 

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I am always rewarded when I chose places that serve foods with homegrown flavors and fragrant dishes bursting with nutrients.  When we go off the beaten path and slow down we usually find somewhere with soul. And usually the only extra cost is being a bit late for a play date or two. Am I asking too much? Potentially. But at the end of a day, in the midst of wet diapers and temper tantrums at least I can guarantee we ate well.

 

Our kids are worth it. If we talk about flavors, herbs, ingredients and nutrition with our children from infancy they will have, somewhere in their amazing minds, a palate that yearns for something beyond the golden arches. We have the power to nurture their curious palettes. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy a crisp pomme frite and an all American cheese burger when the time is right.  Importantly, I never villainize processed foods or chain restaurants with my children.  I do show enthusiasm for the other options.  And if after our best efforts we pull under the neon lights then that’s OK.  Every hasty meal has its time and place.

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I invite you to try it. Vote, Fresh. Vote, Slow.  Just once when you are roaming about with your family with that poignant pain of hunger in your own belly, look for the mom ‘n pop shop. Go out of your comfort zone and pick “a gem.” See how it goes. I concede that you may have to wait a little longer for a bowl of pasta. As time passes we need to decide who is going to Define Delicious for the next generation and hopefully it’s the full minivan exploring something new. 

Write us a comment and tell us how it went. 

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Emily Reynolds Stringer is a published author, freelance food writer and creator of definingdelicious.com. Eating is her passion. Feeding her family wholesome meals is her commitment. Living a delicious life is her inspiration. To contact her directly write to Emily@definingdelicious.com