Ana and I try to make it a priority to do two things every day. Share at least one meal together, and talk about our day. We have found these moments to be foundational for our relationship and if these things do not happen, disaster will ensue shortly thereafter! We enjoy sharing meals with people and inviting others to have dinner with us. We also try to get our parents and pastors and people who care about us to take us out as much as possible for food, since they usually enjoy treating us to a meal, and free food that I did not prepare always taste better.
I would imagine that if I were to take Ana out on a first date, with all the knowledge I have now of things she likes, it would definitely be to a restaurant! She loves food, and is usually not a harsh critic of new things, as long as they are free of bones and things of the sort. That's a usual first date for a lot of people, and whenever I people watch, I always try to look out for the folks that are meeting each other for the first time. The situation of a Tinder or Match meetup is always amusing to me, but I do have empathy for people who do this on a regular basis. Dating in the 2015 is strange and mysterious.
We recently saw Pretty Woman with about 8,000 other people watching at the beautiful Red Rocks. The thousands of us laughed when wealthy, powerful business owners met to discuss the takeover of a company and the not-so-professional Vivian is brought along to attempt to blend into a new world of fine dining. The clash of the two cultures based on status speaks to how by simply observing how someone eats dinner, it shows what some of their values are.
I have often looked at how healthy a family was, based on how they ate together. I am not convinced this is the best gauge of family functionality, however, it is often reflective of some important things. I do believe it shows how much a family or a social group wants to build into each other. Everyone essentially has to eat at some point, but sitting down for a meal on a regular basis does take a sacrifice. Besides the simple reason of not enough time, a meal can be pushed to the side for activities, work, recreation, ministry, the list goes on. Most people would say that they value meal time, but I doubt it is the first thing to be scheduled on a daily calendar. I know that it is not the first thing I schedule on my calendar.
As I grow older, I watch things in my life become less tangible and more "blended" into the changing landscape of our culture. Pocket organizers, address books, watches, books, are almost of little value if they are not able be combined with something else into a sleek device. The way I explore is different, as I scope out destinations and new places before I embark on a journey. New things are more like a scavenger hunt than they are a surprise, as I have a list of "must-see/must-do" places to visit. Since drones cannot drop off food to me while I'm watching Netflix just yet, I believe the sacredness of meals are something that have survived the changing times. I believe that everyone appreciates a good meal and a nice beverage, regardless of how often you do it! And of course, there is no better way to show hospitality, than to feed an empty belly!
The next few blog posts will focus on different aspects of how Ana and I do our meals, talking about meal prep, sitting down with people you love, prioritizing meal planning into a busy schedule, as well as tips we have found over the years! Before the next posts, maybe we can begin to think about our favorite meals that we partake in, our favorite places to eat, or any tips that one may have. Feel free to comment! I would love to hear from our readers how they do food!
-Jarred
Eating together as a family is something I actually looked forward to growing up. It was a time we all sat down and possibly had the stage to share what was going on in our lives. Now my family wasn't the best representation of this, but it was a window into something I long for. For me I picture a really long table and my family and friends over often. There is just something venerable about breaking bread with one another. I know that when I'm comfortable cooking for someone and having them in my house, well they are in my life to stay.
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