“What’s for dinner?” is the most asked question in our wealthy society. The inability to answer this question quickly and easily has become the single biggest cause of unhappiness in our time.

The simple reason is that, while technology can provide a quick, easy and ready meal solution, it can not synthesize the human emotion required for nourishment, leaving mass produced food not only nutritionally poor, but also emotionally void. Long after a home cooked meal has been digested the warmth and loving nourishment lingers, who doesn’t have fond memories of a Sunday roast (or equivalent) as a child…..

Food has always united individuals, families and communities to work together for the benefit of all. Meal planning was an essential strategy of survival. If crops weren’t harvested and stored, if meats were not preserved, humans would not have been able to survive the long winter months in the northern hemisphere. Despite the hard work, people were nourished and nurtured by the “fruits of their labour.”  “What’s for dinner?” was never asked because it was always planned.

We certainly would not like to go back to the harsh reality of yesteryear, even if the food was better, life was brutal, and survival was dark. Modern technology has gentrified our environment.  We are now enjoying the “fruits of our development” but we need to think differently with the food we eat. Our bodies are ancient and need the nutrients that only Mother Nature can provide. Noise from fast food promotion has made it difficult to visualise food in its natural state. However, technology has enabled whole foods to be available all year round. In reality meals from whole foods can now be made cheaper, more conveniently and faster than fast food. The catch is we need to do a little planning and preparation.

People who plan and prepare wholefood meals in advance generally, eat better, feel better and have a happier perspective on life. The simple reason for this is that they are not constantly pursuing the answer to the question – “What’s for dinner?”

It was Arnold H. Glasgow who wrote: “Happy is the person who knows what to remember of the past, what to enjoy in the present, and what to plan for in the future.

The pursuit of happiness begins with knowing the answer to “What’s for dinner?” because if you plan to eat well, you will live well.

🙂

Anna