Fast-Food vs. Slow-Food

The past few weeks of my life have been all over the place. I currently live in an apartment in Boston, yet I still go home on some weekends and weekdays to spend time with my family. The constant change in location has altered my usual eating habits. I have not done a “full” grocery shop for most of the summer, as I did not want any of the food to expire or become stale. I have cooked a constant breakfast of egg whites and oatmeal with peanut butter for as long as I can remember. Lunch is usually a salad on-the-go, or a protein bar when I am at work. Dinner time while I am at school is homemade, while the “fast-food” meals tend to occur when I am in my hometown or somewhere other than my apartment. My dinner is some combination of a protein (chicken, turkey breast, or steak) paired with a form of a vegetable and starch. My favorite side dish to make it cauliflower stir-fry, which I have provided a picture of below. I blend the cauliflower until it is a rice-texture, throw it on the pan, and add some frozen veggies until it is cooked. Then, I will add teriyaki, soy sauce, or hoisin sauce to add a little flavor. Reflecting on my cooking style, I would say it most closely resembles from American cuisine style- protein, vegetable, and starch. Although I consume an American diet, I incorporate cultural food styles as well, such as the soy sauce and teriyaki, which is commonly used in Chinese cuisine.

            If I have to eat at a fast-food restaurant, I try to choose somewhere that has healthy options. This past week my family ordered take-out from Garden Pizza, a local favorite. I ordered the grilled chicken salad, which never disappoints. On the other nights I spent with my family, we all worked together to cook a homemade dinner just like old times. One dinner, for example, consisted of grilled chicken, a salad, corn on the cob, and homemade sweet potato fries. My dad cooked the meat, my mom made the salad and my boyfriend and I made the vegetables and fries. It was a team effort and we all got to spend time together in the process. I hope to continue the tradition of “family dinner” when I am grown and have children of my own.