A striped life

The ’multiple problem’ of some Finnish people as a result of eating, drinking and stress is a focus of growing concern, and solutions are being pursued.

You can’t help but wonder how so many people have managed to mess up their relationship with something so important – a daily necessity and indulgence – food.

Too much, too good, too easily?

Is the problem the fact that this is the first generation that has had access to much more food than they need?

Is it that fewer and fewer of us even know how to cook and therefore eat less, healthily, economically and quickly?

Or has the distinction between ordinary days and holidays faded because of the daily abundance of everything. For more and more people, even the finest delicacies no longer mean special occasions.

And, above all, have we forgotten what good food tastes like?

Something has to be done. But the fact of the matter is that people seldom change their behavior based on facts alone. They acknowledge the fact, but take no action. Change comes only when there is some kind of insight on an emotional level – or there is a forced awakening.

There are so many problems intertwined with food, misguided attitudes and unnatural expectations and fears that the whole problem can’t be solved instantly.

Ordinary days and holidays, fish soup and chocolate cake

We could get on the right path of a more sensible attitude towards food if we could think of life as striped.

Sometimes ordinary days, sometimes holidays. On week days, eat ordinary and healthy, and on weekends and holidays, celebrate a little with the food. It seems too obvious, but that’s exactly why the idea works.

Ordinary food may be the single most important thing to help correct eating issues. If you eat well five days during the week, nothing fancy (which often translates to healthy), weekends can be a time to enjoy some of the richer delicacies without feeling guilty. In fact, researchers have found that if a person enjoys their food judiciously and earnestly, the good mood can offset the effects of the unhealthy aspects. So it’s not a sin to enjoy good food and life!

Good flavor goes from every day to holidays

Homemade, healthy food can be prepared easily and quickly, and it tastes good. Yes, good. Many times people forget just how tasty and good homemade food is. Many of us have fond memories of delicious homemade macaroni casseroles or meatball dishes – memories that are likely linked to other memories of family life and togetherness. But that’s another story.

And besides – what better way to relax after a day at work than cooking. Chopping vegetables and peeling potatoes can help the day’s frustrations and tensions disappear. My children have occasionally come home from school to see me energetically peeling and chopping next to a mountain of veggies, only to say: ”Must have been a rough day at work!”

Revamping the fast food concept

I realize that by now many are already thinking, ’Sure, it would be nice to cook food every day, but who has time? Long days at work, running children to and from activities, exercise class is at a bad time, what should I cook, there’s no time to go to the store…’

However, you don’t have to make food every day. A big pot of soup, a casserole, a stew lasts for several days, and they taste even better the longer their flavors marry. Heating up the food the next day is fast and easy, and if there are any leftovers they can be put in the freezer.

To me, the greatest thing about cooking is that when you make really good food economically and easily from basic ingredients, the cook is much more satisfied than after preparing and eating a complicated lobster dinner.

Maija Piiroinen

(Check back for more facts and thoughts about ordinary food – and ideas on preparing easy meals.)