What do you think?

Something I have often though about, especially last semester in econ class, is if cooking is a valuable trait or talent. We live in a nation where fast food and convenience is key. Not only is fast food for you, but also most of the packaged foods in the grocery stores are horrible for you and full of chemicals that clog up in our bodies. There are so many “packaged” deals and already made meals. Cooking is a lost art in my opinion. But is it valuable and worth doing anymore? I personally think it is. I think that cooking is something that everybody should know how to do. Cooking is can be a family event and sitting around the table brings people and families together. In America, it is all about getting things done, and getting what you want here and now. There is no time to cook and sit with your family and friends. When I went to Europe, sitting down to eat was a very long process. Nobody seemed to be in a hurry all the time. They genuinely seemed to be enjoying each other’s company. In the grassy are in front of the Eiffel Tower, hundreds of friends gathered around with elaborate meals and food. Here, it is like a grabbing a coffee is the only bonding time friends have over a meal. I think the way most of us treat cooking and mealtime is very impersonal and rushed. Eating and sharing a meal seems like it is just a thing to do in order to prepare you for your next task and refuel your body to get things done. It is hard to say that when I am sitting down and eating that I am not thinking about what I need to do and what comes next. During our lunches at school, we are always quizzing each other and studying for an English quiz. Studying isn’t a bad thing, but I think lunch is the one part of the day where it is completely okay to talk and laugh with friends in school. Like I said before, I was amazed at how so many people sat around talking and eating for hours during a meal.  Also, I think that cooking meals is healthier most of the time. Microwave meals and fast food is so bad for us, most people do not realize what it is doing to your body. What disturbs me most is that people know and can recognize that they are fat and are probably making their kids fat but they don’t do anything or change anything. They keep things the same just because it is easy and quick. What happened to caring for our well-being and bodies? It is not that hard to turn off the TV and go get some exercise. The funny thing is that at most gyms there are TVs attached to the treadmills and elliptical and yet America is still the fattest nation in to world.