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The Orion

Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Pre-packaged food hinders health, culture

Published 2010-11-16T16:26:00Z”/>

opinion

Nick Pike

Feeding yourself in the poverty-ridden days of college usually comes down to two things – simplicity and cost.

From the standard punchlines that parents make about Top Ramen being the meal of choice to movies depicting university students grubbing on frozen burritos and boxed macaroni and cheese, these examples are pretty on-point for the most part.

The frozen food market has flourished due to culinary technology that keeps food edible and semi-satisfying for extended periods of time – along with the ease of opening a wrapper and pressing a button on the microwave.

The earliest form of domestication and provision was the ability to provide oneself and loved ones with the most basic needs of survival – food, water and shelter.

This included the ability to create a satisfying and fulfilling meal using only nature and one’s own two hands.

As time rolled on, it seems as though everyone just got in a hurry and couldn’t care less if their meal came from thought and love or a frozen box.

From frozen nuggets and Hungry-Man meals to complete gourmet dinners, this faux food market has grasped many youths and will only dig a deeper hole as we come into our own as adults.

Along with the brutal health consequences that a lot of these frozen meals contain, they are also destroying us in a much deeper aspect – by sabotaging our souls.

As cheesy as that may sound, it’s true. The heritage and background of all Americans is based around our native cuisine and the bonds of family and friendship that derive from it.

There’s a saying I once heard that said, “If you can’t sit down to a home-cooked meal with family at least once a day, then you’re doomed for failure.”

While this seems like an extreme to some, the fact of the matter is that food and the love that goes into it is what unites all of us in one way or another.

Take a look at Latin or European culture. What brings these people together to bond and socialize in happiness? It’s the melding of food and drink from its rawest forms – not picking up a box of jalapeno poppers and fish sticks at the nearest Safeway.

While many Americans may enjoy the simplicity of a timely meal made by modern technology, the heart of humanity thrives on the bare essentials of deriving delicious sustenance from the core ingredients that nature provides us.

So why do college kids stray from following our ancestry?

Maybe most of us were never taught the proper methods of cooking a natural meal, or maybe we are too intimidated by the failures that could occur in learning how to cook.

However, that should be no excuse to shy off one of the most important things that can be passed down the family tree to this day.

My grandmother still makes the Italian classics for our family every holiday that her mother brought from Italy when she immigrated.

It’s something we all look forward to as the holiday season nears because it’s the one aspect that brings our family together.

So for those willing yet hesitant to trash the preservatives and pull out the cutting board, the tools are ample to pick up the art of cooking.

By watching Food Network and other television stations or pulling up recipes online, you can find the information out there – you just have to look for it.

I know that sometimes in college, that quick meal on the go is all you have time for, and I’m guilty of microwave abuse as well.

But next time you’re winding down at night with a frozen burrito and Facebook, maybe you should dust off that chopping knife and put some love into your meal – it’ll save your wallet and maybe your soul.

Nick Pike can be reached at [email protected]

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