“All God’s children gotta eat.”
This was my dad's response to a vagabond who asked him for a couple bucks to feed the runaways taking refuge on his train. An ordinary, decent person would give the guy some money and leave. With that, he might be able to buy a burger or two off of the dollar menu.
My dad is not ordinary.
Get this: he walked the vagabond and his gang of teenage runaways to the nearest Subway, told each one to get whatever they wanted, ordered a sandwich for himself, paid, and ate dinner with them.
I tell this story not to brag about my dad, but to bring up an issue that not many Americans pay attention to. My dad understands the importance of a good meal. Not that Subway is a great meal, but it was the best he could do at the time.
Last week, I wrote about "The Bare Necessities" and Henry David Thoreau’s "Walden." Thoreau defines the four most basic needs of life as food, shelter, clothing, and fuel. This week, I want to go in depth on that first bare necessity—because if we improve our bare necessities, our overall quality of life will improve.
Over the last couple years, I’ve made friends with some people from France. The French take their food very seriously. In the middle of the day, every day, all students and working adults in France get a two-hour lunch break. This gives them time to go home and cook a nice meal for themselves or for their family. Americans would never think this feasible. There are meetings to be had and business to take care of.
With this in mind, I decided to ask my French friends what cultural difference they noticed first when they moved to the states. A Lille native didn’t hesitate, “If people aren’t talking on their cell phones while driving, they are eating. French people would never dream of eating while driving.”
As I wrote in my last article, the U.S. is business-minded. Over the last decade, the food industry in the U.S. has changed dramatically. It has been reduced to convenience: the ultimate money-making machine. The vast majority of products that can be found in today’s supermarkets are what food journalist Michael Pollan calls “edible food-like substances.” They are so removed from the meats and plants from which they were derived that they can hardly be called “food” anymore.
In Michael Pollan’s documentary "In Defense of Food," which is based on his book with the same name, he lists some of his own personal food rules. One states, “If it came from a plant, eat it. If it was made in a plant, don’t.” This is a part of French culture as well. In France, supermarkets are less common than small shops that sell ingredients: bread, meats, cheeses, vegetables. Needless to say, the French don’t waste their time with Chips Ahoy or Cheezits.
Ingredients are the most important factor to consider in what we eat. If you eat fresh, clean ingredients, your body will feel fresh and clean. You are what you eat, as they say. The best way to ensure you’re eating good quality ingredients is by cooking—not throwing a frozen meal in the microwave or oven—but actually cooking. Pick out fresh vegetables at your local grocery store or farmer’s market. If you eat meat, buy from the butcher instead of the freezer section.
About a year ago, I started cooking at least once a day, which took time, energy, and sacrifice. However, three major changes have occurred for me since I began improving this bare necessity of life:
1) I eat healthier, and I am a healthier person. My body has never felt better—I have more energy during the day, I sleep better at night, and I feel light on my feet—like there’s nothing I can’t do.
2) I feel better about myself. Eating well makes me feel like a more successful person. Cooking is an accomplishment, and the reward is a great meal.
3) I am a happier person. A sense of accomplishment goes a long way. When your body feels good, and when you feel good about yourself, your overall quality of life improves.
If no one else wants to cook, cook for yourself. Try and fail a few times, but try again. When you gain confidence, cook for other people—invite friends over, cook breakfast for your kids, have your parents over for dinner. Give it a shot and see what happens.
