I have been seeing a lot of Facebook posts recently about the effect that prepared meals/frozen meals are having on America's health - GMO, non-organic, etc. I know that typically when I go grocery shopping I tend to steer clear of the frozen foods isle (except for ice cream and a few breakfast staples that get us through those rush mornings w/ Ethan). My step brother Ivor gave me some advice one day, do not go down the aisles, shop the perimeter of the grocery store because that is where all of the fresh ingredients are. Plus, I do a lot of my shopping from Amazon Fresh in our area which is great for finding those fresh grocery staples.
I am sure that the way I was raised has a lot to do with my grocery shopping tendencies. My mom specifically has always been an inspiration for home cooked meals. When I was growing up she always served healthy meals that were always prepared from ingredients combined together, not packaged in a ready to serve meal. My grandparents on my mom's side were farmers and so a lot of what was prepared was from what they harvested off the land. I distinctly remember my Grandmother preparing huge lunches for the farmers along with fresh produce and of course home made pies.
My grandmother on my dad's side was also a great cook as well. I think that she made everything from the 1960's version of the Betty Crocker cook book (ham with the pineapple rings and cherries included). Don't get me wrong, I do love my pre-packaged orange chicken from TJ's but I tend to think that this has had a lasting impression on me.
I find joy in mixing ingredients, specifically fresh ingredients, to create a fantastic meal and knowing exactly what is in it gives me the satisfaction that I know what I am feeding my family. And I do have to say, when tomato season comes around homemade pasta sauce with Roma tomatoes and fresh basil is so much better than the jarred stuff but you also have to prepare what is in season.
I am not a master cook by any means and maybe sometimes not a good cook, but I hope to instill in my son the importance of dinner, what's in it, and the joy of cooking.
What do you think about Americans grocery and eating habits today?
