How often we would have heard the phrase ” Eat to live.. but do not live to eat”.. Honestly.. all of us follow this phrase true to the word.. We just grab a bite on our way to work, Only time we do make plans to eat something is during the times we dine out with family / friends .. But then again.. we go to the same restraint where we have been going for the past 5 yrs. Very rarely.. say 1 in 5 times we brave ourselves to try out the new eatery.
Gone are the days ( Roughly 20-25 yrs back) when elaborate luncheons and dinners are planned at home.. the family sits around and decides on the list of items on the menu ( after all everyone want their favorite on the plate).. the fun does not end here.. each one is allotted a duty to contribute towards the event……Young members of the family ( around the age of 20-29) get busy listing out the return gifts they plan to give and scurry to the gift store ( read the best store that is at least 8 kms from home) accompanied by a responsible male to handle the finance and keep these young minds focused… Middle aged party of 3 go to the market to get the vegetables and other requirements accompanied by a couple of teenagers to help them carry to goods from the marketplace to the vehicle… Remaining party of adults… supervised by the senor most grandma ( fondly called as the Mother Superior of the House ) get busy in the process of exhibiting their culinary skills… And yes.. the Adolescents ( who cannot be treated as adult or as child) get busy with babysitting. and in the process to keep the toddlers out of the way.. they get creative and plan the decorations..
But then… two income family was a luxury.. Now its a necessity. So I don’t think its rightful to blame the families for not planning and executing such elaborate affairs in the recent times.. Previously the focus was mainly towards..”A reason to get together”…. and the only manner to include the entire family (read female members) was to plan and provide for everyone’s gastric needs.
We too plan parties and dinners.. the difference is.. we give our menu to the caters and enjoy the food while chit-chatting and trying to catch up on the things we have missed on each others lives. After all the deadlines we face week-after-week… isn’t it only natural to think… “Parties are for fun and enjoyment.. what is the fun I am going to have ..If all i get to do is going to the market and slogging in the kitchen”.. Accept and Acknowledge that present youth have lot more to think and worry about other than culinary skills and kitchen escapades
I am not trying to say that the former was better or the latter is worse.. the point is.. times are changing… and we are a part of the change…So lets not crib and make ourselves feel miserable ( for the thing we dont – cannot do at present conditions)… instead.. why not acknowledge our part in the change and get into the spirit of change. This will surely add spring to our steps and zest in our otherwise home-work-home mundane life . The only sunshine in this every day home-work-home routine is when there are kids at home.. No doubt they come bundled with joy and temper tantrums.. at least.. you have something else to think about other than projects and deadline and files and vouchers
Not all of us are lucky to have a perfect 9-5 job , commuting to-and-from the workplace in 10 min ,perhaps drop back home for lunch…..seems so bizarre isn’t it (..which century did this happen…get to the workplace in 10 min.. 😛 ), We compromise on our time with little sleep and a quick snack on the move.. be it McDonad’s burger or the local Bambay burger (..our very own vada-paav)…And try to stuff few bites of banana now-and-then… just too remind ourselves that we need to eat healthy and be quick at it.
I have seen working-professionals grab a bite or two from their tiffen-box (apart from lunch box they also carry a tiffen-box… infact is more appropriate to say breakfast box) when they halt at the traffic signal… they dont ‘waste time’.. instead its breakfast on the move. How healthy is this.. I don’t think i have to elaborate… but definitely its healthier than skipping breakfast all together
So its after all true that “We eat to live..But.. Not live to eat”
Looks like there is much food in store:)
It’s true that most of us eat to live now-a-days. However, the weekends are spent in live to eat mode. Like you said, there is no extensive preparations at home, but mostly at restaurants. Significance of food is dwindling at most homes, because of which, the sense of belonging is also dwindling. Let met wait for Part 2
Shiva..
Oh yes..loots of goodies comming up
I hope to do justice to facts of food and our faculties in this sequel..So give me all your inputs..what you feel.. why you feel..anything that comes to your mind when you read this article..
I am a new comer to your blog and enjoyed reading your food for thought.
As you said times are changing and we are also flowing with the time. There surely is no use cribbing over our present time. “The only thing constant in life is change!”
But I feel in the hurry burry to live we are actually not living life in its true spirit.Family lunches and dinners which usually cement the strong foundation of a happy family is fading away. I feel it is sad.I always try to slow down a bit so that my kids can have nostalgic memories of our family around a table.I love to enjoy glow on their faces when they are served their favorite dishes!\
waitinf to read your next…
Nandita
Welcome to horizon
****There surely is no use cribbing over our present time.****
things get a lot easier on our emotions when we start realizing this
thank you for your thoughts on food.
Just hang in there for the next post
Deepa,
I enjoy having parties at home inviting people and the vice versa. Its a get together and you have plenty of time to sit and talk with your friends or family and enjoy food.
Sometimes we do potluck kind of preparation every one brings their own food and its more fun.
Eating out is only my second option when I really need a change or during festivals. When we go for trips, we enjoy carrying food and sitting in the park bench relaxed to eat.
Priya
Potluck preperation is great.. you have a sense of contribution and at the same time donot feel the strain
There is a comment which I heard and identified so much with that I would like to share with you all. It is said that during our youth and middle age, we destroy our health in the quest to earn more money and we spend our old age spending this money in trying to set our health right. Isnt that a paradox? There are too many things that I have relished as a child which my son doesnt even know about. And frankly he doesnt care either. My palate and tongue are so sensitive as to identify and appreciate thousands of flavours while my son is content with pizzas and french fries and paneer. Even apart from food, I love the pleasure I get in speaking in 8 different languages and their different nuances and idioms. My son is happy with just Hindi and English. Maybe it is the generation gap but it is painful to see the younger generation trading a lot of pleasures for money.
Ram
Truly said.. We chase money and leave health behind.. after a few years its vice versa..Dont feel bad that your son doesnt care about other culinary delights nad hte joy of speaking several languages ( I enjoy tooo.. but unlike you.. i can only converse in 6 languages)..
Its just too early to realise all these delgihts for ur son.. may be few years down the lane boht father &son can have this discussion