So I’m increasingly fascinated by the politics of food. I grow massively annoyed by the marketing of “green” as an upscale lifestyle choice–I’m out of work right now aside from whatever freelancing I can cobble together, and I cannot afford to buy my groceries at the local organic food co-op, which sells the same things as Whole Foods but is even more expensive (though at least it’s not a rotten corporation). I buy cheap food at the cheap bodegas and might have to make a trip to the grocery superstore a few blocks over, and cheap food mostly translates to cereal, rice, pasta, and frozen vegetables so I don’t die of scurvy.
I do spend a few extra bucks on fresh apples and other fruit, at the local farmer’s market if I can manage it.
Then the other problem: I don’t cook. I am almost 30 and I doubt that at this point I’m going to turn around and decide I love cooking, and though Michael Pollan’s right about a lot, he’s not going to be able to talk me into liking cooking the same way that hundreds of earnest people have not been able to talk me into liking the Beatles.
Much the same as the Beatles, I understand that cooking is important. I just don’t enjoy doing it. Moreover, at this point I feel GUILTY for walking away from the computer to spend half an hour or more in the kitchen when I have work to do, and when I’ve reached my quota for the day, I don’t feel like doing any more work.
And there are many people out there who have less money, less education, and less free time than I do.
So, where’s MY cookbook? I don’t need 30-minute meals, I need 5-minute meals. Organic farmer’s markets aren’t going to solve my food dilemmas as long as the food at the crappy corporate grocery is cheaper.
I’m interested in urban gardening and real food co-ops and ways that people can provide real food activism that isn’t preachy and condescending. I’m interested in ways we can make our food better for us, better for the environment, and available to all. Eating healthy shouldn’t be a privilege, and climate change will never be addressed if only the top 5% of the country can afford to “live green.”
I’m betting Erik has some thoughts on this, since the intersection of his academic work–labor issues and environmental issues–is really what I’m talking about. But I want to hear from everyone. Unless you’re going to tell me to learn to cook (or just listen to the Beatles one more time, man…)
(Cross-posted from Alterdestiny)
i feel a lot like you do, but the only thing that made me come around to enjoying cooking was seeing it as something i was doing that took me out of my head for 20-30 minutes and became very relaxing. even just making a simple sandwich + salad can make you feel better and fuel you to continue doing the intense work and thinking writing requires.
i don’t know if that’s particularly helpful but it’s how i forced myself to start cooking. it’s like cooking CBT, you just have to think of it in a different way and teach yourself like 5, simple recipes.
Lisa Jervis’s new book seems in line with your ethos–see if the NYPL/BPL has it:
http://cook-food.org/about/
Another–I know you’re not veg, but this book is beyond simple:
http://www.amazon.com/Vegetarian-5-Ingredient-Gourmet-Nava-Atlas/dp/076790690X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253690965&sr=1-1
I think the point is that whether or not I get in the kitchen and cook or continue to live on pasta with some frozen veggies or takeout doesn’t help the millions of people who don’t have access to fresh healthy food get access to fresh healthy food.
In other words, the problem is not personal, it is political.
Just a thought: If you don’t cook, get a raw “cookbook” like “Rawsome” or “Living in the Raw” or one of those… Might as well learn to make tasty raw stuff!
I’ve really enjoyed learning how to make different combinations of foods, as I increase the % of raw foods in my diet.
you damn right, affordable food is a political issue and a class issue in this country. it makes me mad as hell. living green shouldn’t be a posh lifestyle choice, at this point it is pretty much imperative for our health and survival on this planet. How supremely effed it is that SO many people can’t afford not to eat food that will slowly destroy their health.
I have become one of those annoying people who gets organic produce delivered to her door bi-weekly. I justify the cost by splitting it with my roommates, but really at this point I notice such a difference in my health and well being that it would probably be the very last non-essential expense I cut out, right before rent and utilities. I’d rather go without almost anything else.
Your post is reminding me of those days in grad school when I ate tomato soup, whatever was on sale from the snack aisle at CVS with my extra care card, and those bags of lumpy, hard apples that came in packages for like 12 for $5, they were so hard I could barely eat them. When i got my first job one of my most distinct memories was going into the supermarket and realizing that I could buy almost any food I wanted, and the glee I felt running around filling up the cart.
That’s just kind of sad.