Saturday, November 8, 2008

Food for Thought

Please allow me to get up on my soap box for a moment. Today I read a comment on a food forum that astounded me. The person wondered "Do people really need to expose their kids to all these exotic flavors, spices, etc. as she [Rachael Ray] espouses? Won't that just make kids grow up to be demanding, particular, high-maintenance adults?"

Personally, I would much rather feed my family 'real' food than the chemicals that come packaged in boxes and frozen 'pre-made' dinners. Is it really so bad to teach my children to have discerning palates? Shouldn't they know the difference between margarine and butter? Between a boxed cheese product and a real block of aged cheddar cheese? Between a loaf of highly processed, preservative-laden sliced bread and an artisan loaf of fresh bread? Between seasoning packets and fresh herbs and spices?

If knowing and appreciating these things makes children "demanding, particular, high-maintenance adults" then I believe we would all be better off and probably much healthier.

Marilyn steps off her soap box now. Continue as you were.

3 comments:

Rosie Hawthorne said...

I saw that same post and agree with you wholeheartedly.

Marilyn said...

If being a food snob is wrong, I don't want to be right.

CarolynA said...

When I read that post, I couldn't figure out what was "demanding and high maintenance" about enjoying and expecting food made with fresh herbs or more than salt/pepper. Sure, a large bottle of Spice Island dried herbs/spices seems pricey, but it lasts through many delicious meals. And there are sources for less expensive spices.