Keep on Cookin'

I have been reading a book called "Something From the Oven: Reinventing Dinner in 1950's America" by Laura Shapiro.

Little Jenny Wren recommended it, and is it ever an eye-opener.

I grew up during the 1970's, and I would say that most of our meals were packaged and or assembled from packaged ingredients. I really never realized until adulthood, that food is so much better for you if you make it yourself. I also realized that my grocery budget could be drastically reduced by making my own bread, granola, sauces, dressings, etc. And they taste so much better too!

There are a few very interesting things, that really made me think.

"Factory conditions imposed strict limits on the sensory qualities possible in packaged foods, making them predominantly very sweet, very salty, or very bland. The more such qualities were reflected in a family's home cooking, the more acceptable they became-so much so that in the worst of the nations cooking, even dishes made from scratch paid homage to factory flavors."

and

"During the first decades of the twentieth century millions of American palates adjusted to artificial flavors and then welcomed them; and consumers started to let the food industry make a great many decisions on matters of taste that people in the past had always made for themselves."

And did you know that convenience foods really started to take off after WWII because the companies that made military rations didn't want to go out of business, so they repackaged them as "a homemaker's best friend" ?!!!?

What really gets me is now we all have a taste for bad food! My family is not the first to prefer pancakes made with Krusteaz, instead of my whole wheat variety. And don't even get me started about fake maple syrup and how my family prefers it over the real thing. After reading this book I feel like we've been tricked by the food industry.

One thing I do know, the more I prepare wholesome made-from-scratch meals, the more my family has a taste for it. Just like millions of Americans have grown accustomed to the taste of artificial food, my family has now grown accustomed to food made from scratch. It has taken years though.

What really saddens me is that it takes alot of will-power and determination to resist the temptation. It would be sooooooooo easy to just grab a quick meal from the nearest grocery store. They really do make it too easy. Sometimes I wish there weren't so many choices.

What keeps me cooking, is the peace of mind I get from knowing I am feeding my family the best way I know how. They are thriving, strong, healthy, bright, and beautiful. Healthy and whole foods are a big part of the reason.

I would highly recommend reading this book. Beware though.......you will be very dis-enchanted with the food industry :~)

I pray that you are having a healthy and happy week. In God's Love, Tami