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Food for Thought
Jun. 3rd, 2006 11:51 amI've been home for three weeks and exercising only incidentally, but I'm already losing some of my embarassing college weight. This makes me happy. I am seriously considering opting out of the cafeteria meal plan next year and cooking for myself. It would be more work, more trouble, more complicated... but infinitely healthier, both physically and mentally. I like preparing my own food. I like knowing exactly what I am eating. I'm not a picky eater, by any means, but... ugh. When I think about the Cafeteria Lifestyle, I feel disgusted with myself.
First of all, it isn't healthy food. At all, I suspect. Even their wheat bread is slim on nutritional value, and even their 'salads' are either loaded with dressing (in the case of Dorothy's Caesar) or use disgusting watery-white iceberg lettuce, which is like... water. Only tastes worse. And is psychologically damaging, because you look at it and think... shouldn't this be green? It's lettuce, it must be green. But it isn't, and it gives you a complex.
There's also the social factor. You go in, sit down, eat with friends, but then more friends come, you want to talk to them too, it would be rude to just get up and leave (or so my nuclear home life has taught me), so you maybe get something else to eat, and if you are not very careful, you end up eating more than you need. Which you might end up doing anyway, just because knowing that you don't have much to graze on back in your room, you may as well fill up here because who knows when you will be hungry again?
And reflecting on this, I am grossed out beyond belief. I lived like that? At home, I have cereal and fruit for breakfast. I have edamame or a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. Dinner is ritualistically prepared, includes all food groups in tasteful combinations, and is eaten with the entire family, sitting down, in the dining room. No one leaves until everyone is finished, and then we wash dishes. This is Healthy. And I can get away with eating relatively little because I know that should I be hungry again, food is readily available.
I think it would be worth cooking for myself next year. I can make a fine salad, various pasta dishes, grilled and baked chicken, and even shish kabobs. It might be expensive as far as time, and require an investment in spices and olive oil, as well as a fridge and freezer... but I think I could manage. Cooking utensils and pots might be trickier. I heard a rumor that Marion Hall would have such things stocked in the kitchens, but I don't know if this is true. If it isn't, well, there are other solutions.
And with the beginning of June, I have my gym membership back.
First of all, it isn't healthy food. At all, I suspect. Even their wheat bread is slim on nutritional value, and even their 'salads' are either loaded with dressing (in the case of Dorothy's Caesar) or use disgusting watery-white iceberg lettuce, which is like... water. Only tastes worse. And is psychologically damaging, because you look at it and think... shouldn't this be green? It's lettuce, it must be green. But it isn't, and it gives you a complex.
There's also the social factor. You go in, sit down, eat with friends, but then more friends come, you want to talk to them too, it would be rude to just get up and leave (or so my nuclear home life has taught me), so you maybe get something else to eat, and if you are not very careful, you end up eating more than you need. Which you might end up doing anyway, just because knowing that you don't have much to graze on back in your room, you may as well fill up here because who knows when you will be hungry again?
And reflecting on this, I am grossed out beyond belief. I lived like that? At home, I have cereal and fruit for breakfast. I have edamame or a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. Dinner is ritualistically prepared, includes all food groups in tasteful combinations, and is eaten with the entire family, sitting down, in the dining room. No one leaves until everyone is finished, and then we wash dishes. This is Healthy. And I can get away with eating relatively little because I know that should I be hungry again, food is readily available.
I think it would be worth cooking for myself next year. I can make a fine salad, various pasta dishes, grilled and baked chicken, and even shish kabobs. It might be expensive as far as time, and require an investment in spices and olive oil, as well as a fridge and freezer... but I think I could manage. Cooking utensils and pots might be trickier. I heard a rumor that Marion Hall would have such things stocked in the kitchens, but I don't know if this is true. If it isn't, well, there are other solutions.
And with the beginning of June, I have my gym membership back.
