I find that unprocessesed food is now percieved as "premium" food, and fetches premium prices at stores all around my home town. I can purchace pre-packaged food much more cheaply, if I choose carefully. But I don't like pre-processed foods and don't by them so much. I like fresh veggies, fruits, and good meats, poultry, fish, etc.
I don't blame lack of home-ec, or the fast food joints. I blame the work place. It is my belief that our "industrious" way of life, and work ethic cause us to place too much emphasis on work. In my job, I work from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a 1 hour, unpaid lunch break. In an hour, I can hardly find time to get any daytime chores out of the way, and still get food. Sometimes, due to the job, I have to skip lunch altogether. And because I'm away from home a minimum of 9 hours a day, not including travel time, this leaves me little time for household chores. And as I am the head cook, I can't start supper until I get home, so we often don't get to eat until 7:00 p.m. or later. Then, there are dishes to do, and possible a few other things before settling in for the night. Teh weekend comes and Saturday is spent getting done around the house what wasn't completed during the week. Sunday is set aside for religeous reasons.
In European Countries, the work-day is shorter; there is more vacation time, and personal days. Luch hours are often two hours long, giving the worker time to walk to a bistro, or roadside eatery to enjoy a meal, and then walk back to work.
There is a movement called "Slow Food" that is strong and growing. Its precept is that we need to slow down a little, and take time to cook, to enjoy life around us, and not be so constantly worried about maximum production, at all costs. Though I am not a member of this movement, I do appreciate it and agree that too much emphasis is placed on production, especially when that production usually serves only to fatten the wallets and purses of business owners, and stock holders. I'm kinda tired of busting my backside to make others rich, and seeing precious little back for my efforts. But that's the world I live in and am, like most everyone else, a slave to the wage.
We do make choices about who we are, who we want to be, our health, and well being. But often times, the choices are taken away from us by others who control our time. Sure, we let them. It's the American way.
I at one time went to the gym three to 5 times a week, using an hour and one/half for lunch. This was allowed by our department manager, and allowed me time to incorporate both weight training, and a shower. I didn't abuse it, and used only the time alloted. The extra half hour was made up by comming to work a half hour early on those days I worked out. But my direct supervisor complained so often about me taking this time to work out, stating that my working hours were from 8 to 5, and shouldn't be deviated from, in spite of department policy. I finally got sick of listening and quit working out. And due to familial obligations, it's very hard to get to the gym other than that noon time workout. Thus, I am not as active, or in good shape as I was when I was working out. And yes, I do blame my imediate supervisor.
The job, for most of us, makes unfair demands on our lives. And don't even get me started on "on-call" time.
Seeeeeeya; Goodweed of the North