8,000 Dinners and Counting

“What’s for dinner?” That is the scariest question, a question that causes feelings of dread in the most stalwart of mothers.

Sometimes a Mom hears this: “Honey, I’m home! What’s for dinner?”

Kids may phrase the question like this: “I’m hungry! There’s nothing to eat.”

Even the mother herself may ask this question. Have you ever walked into a mega grocery store and looked at all the bounty and wondered, “What should I make for dinner?” And no answer comes?

As a conservative estimate, I have shopped for, prepared and cooked at least 8,000 evening meals. That’s just estimating 5 dinners per week for the years I’ve been married. Sometimes the family loves my cuisine, often they say, “What is it?” or “Not that again!”  And doesn’t every cook like to explain what the weird green things are?

I know that my friends the Millennials handle cooking chores equally now, but in my life experience, preparing family meals has been my province. Cooking to please the family taste buds is my joy and job, my cherished chore, pride and peril. So as I strap on my apron, I wonder…

Why do we eat so often?

The other day, as I flipped the fish, and grabbed at the potatoes as they rolled off the counter, I thought, “Why do we have to eat so frequently?” Why do we get hungry every four to six hours? If we only had to nourish our bodies once a week or once a month, my life would be so much easier. Instead of Taco Tuesday, it would be Meatloaf March or Sloppy Joe September.

Or even easier- whatever happened to the magic meal replacement pill? Did you read science fiction as a child? That was a popular device in galaxy adventures. No need for even Tang; intrepid astronauts could stuff ten year’s worth of meal pills in their quart-sized clear travel bag.

Some people recommend three meals a day, some say four, or one or even six meals day. There are also advocates for fasting. But no matter what the regimen, we still need to eat pretty often.

I asked my husband what he thought and he said to the dog, “What’s Mom talking about?”

So I puzzled it myself and then I decided to ask God. “God, why do we need to eat several meals per day?”

God Said…

• Getting hungry several times a day keeps you closer to Me. You have to rely on Me. Even a day without food can cause big problems.
• Gathering together for regular meals each day keeps your family closer and gives you meaningful ways to socialize and bond with families and friends.
• Saying Grace before each meal helps you develop your feelings of gratitude.
• I provide you with good food and you are grateful for My love. You can show your love for your family with your meals, too.

What do you think about Cooking?

What are your thoughts? I hope you share them with me. Do you like to grocery shop and cook every day? Have you ever wondered why we need to eat on a daily basis? What lessons have you learned from food about grace and gratitude?