Can't Cook, Won't Cook...

I never learnt to cook. I was never given cookery lessons at school, at the time(is this sexist)or just the norm back then but I only remember "Girls" doing it as a subject.

But I guess, you just pick things up through life. You read a recipe in a book, a magazine or newspaper.

There are many cookery programmes on television and the chefs and cooks on TV have made the subject sexy, fashionable or interesting.

And then the basics I'd have thought are picked up by watching or being around a parent who is making something in the kitchen at home.

Of course the increase in "Ready" meals perhaps has played it's part as it easy just to walk into a supermarket and buy something in a box.

But I still cannot understand(allowing for medical problems that mean you have to eat a specialist diet)or possibly for financial reasons(low income)why decent, tasty, nutritional meals cannot be produced.

I can prepare fresh vegetables in minutes(and if the remainder of the vegetables are stored properly)have a few meals over a few days. Then again pick up frozen vegetables(if you have a freezer)they have as much goodness and vitamins in them these days as the fresh produce. I can buy a large packet of good quality mixed vegetables containing carrot, broccoli, peas, and cauliflower for £1 and that will give me what is said to be good for my health.

The only real decision is whether you want to add meat to the meal or eat a meal that is vegetarian. If you watch the salt levels on a prepared meal, you can make things better by perhaps compromising, buy a prepared meal but add some ingredients that you have prepared.

How difficult is it to cook an egg? How many different meals can you make out of an egg? You can poach or fry it. Beat it up and make an omelet with a variety of fillings. Dip bread in the beaten egg and fry(it can be done without adding fat or oil)in a frying pan and have what is sometimes called Gypsy or French Toast. How about scrambled egg?

What's wrong with simple food like beans on toast? Or a baked/jacket potato with a filling of some kind. Perhaps melted cheese over the top.

If you feel adventurous you can go for something that is really special but the point is you can eat well with the simplest diet possible. There is nothing wrong with a traditional breakfast(if you have the time to cook it)that's bacon, egg, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans and so on.

Who said there is anything wrong with eating a meal that does not require cooking? A salad does not need to be boring. What's wrong with a sandwich.

It's everything in moderation.

Then we come to fruit. I have returned to eating more fruit after a number of years and when you hear that you should eat 5 portions of fruit and veg, some people think "It's too much, it can't be done" It's so easy. One glass of fruit juice is a portion. Approx 1 cup of berries or grapes(that's around a handful)that is a portion)2 small clementine oranges is a portion, a banana, an apple and so on. And what's wrong with a tin of fruit? Throw a few pieces on your cereal(if you eat that) Again just because it's in a can doesn't mean it's unhealthy. The most important meal of the day...breakfast, hence the obvious "break" the "fast"

The point is you can feel full but none of these foods will not really add on weight.

No one said you cannot eat those luxuries that are deemed bad for you that we all enjoy.

So does it need to be taught in school? Perhaps...Does it actually require the student/pupil to actual cook a dish(it's probably a good idea but un-necessary)I'm sure some kind of learning pack could produced for the pupils to take away(even produced by the Government's own food agency)or the food industry itself. Some programmes could be broadcast on food subjects on schools TV or some video's produced specially for schools.

Considering Jamie Oliver's campaign to improve school meals, this is something he'd consider doing. He was fortunate to be the one to get maximum publicity and lots of space in the press but anyone could've said what he has and many have for years but this was the right time. Further reading suggests that this subject is to be taught to...teenagers which for me, still means an opportunity has been missed by not involving children at an earlier age.

The improvement in school meals surely shows many pupils what is acceptable these days to eat well and be healthy.

Give the pupils a cook book.

There are websites full of good information about food(facts)and recipes. Assuming you have a computer and can afford to be connected to the web.

And what about visiting a library?

It's not rocket science. I think some of these stories and campaigns actually cause more problems then they solve. Teachers may say we have too much to do teaching all the other subjects we have to but most schools could have a kind of lifestyle topic that over the months/years take in healthy eating, cooking, diet, the importance of exercise and other things that affect our lives.

This could be done in the junior schools(even if dropped or not done as much)in the secondary schools. If you haven't learnt it or been fired up by then, the main subjects that you have to pass for your qualifications has to take priority. Young children are more likely to want to make a cake or whatever. Who, when Mum used to make a cake didn't ask to scrape the bowl and eat what was left of the mixture?

Then again, the sad fact is that the economic state the world is in and the Government wanting to get parents out to work as soon as possible and children into nurseries/schools etc... as soon as possible probably does not help. Of course you should make time for your children and have quality time with them but it is often too hard because of the long hours people are expected to work. Or that because sometimes both parents have to work, children are left to their own devices. That is a whole different subject.

This initiative is being driven by the realisation that we could be heading for an obesitity crises which will result in health problems such as diabetes, heart problems and so on. All very good reasons for trying to do something about it but...perhaps it's just me but I have always seen overweight people but not as many as I am shown or told about when the topic comes up on TV or in the press and they always manage to find the extreme cases to illustrate the point.

In the Summertime especially, all the children and teenagers around here are out until all hours chasing around or playing football and the local leisure centre is in constant use so again perhaps it really depends on where you live.

Cookery classes to be compulsory

Get Cooking