Thread: How much time do you spend preparing food every day?

On Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:14:11 -0700, Mark Thorson <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I really don't want to think about this. I once went
>to five different supermarkets on the same day looking
>for the chili peppers I wanted. If you include shopping,
>I probably spend about 2 hours a day on food, not counting
>the time I take to eat it. Of course, that's also not
>counting the time I spend reading RFC. :-)

I'd say it's about two hours, counting the time I spend standing in
the pantry trying to remember why I went in there.

Tonight it's beans (and some other stuff) for dinner. They're
simmering right now, and they'll simmer for some time to come. But I
suppose that really doesn't count as time I'll spend cooking.

That time will be made up later, however, because I'm gonna pickle
some okra tonight, too. And I don't have any canning jars, so it's off
to the store after the beans are done.
--

modom

In article <[email protected]>,
Mark Thorson <[email protected]> wrote:

> I really don't want to think about this. I once went
> to five different supermarkets on the same day looking
> for the chili peppers I wanted. If you include shopping,
> I probably spend about 2 hours a day on food, not counting
> the time I take to eat it. Of course, that's also not
> counting the time I spend reading RFC. :-)

It depends on the day. Some days I'll spend all day on and off if I'm
cooking something complex, or if I'm cooking enough for the week.

Other days, minutes only as both of us deliberately live a lot on
leftovers.

Monday I spent about 4 hours as I was smoking a bunch of meat. Some of
that had been brining and/or drying off for an entire week. <g>

I can't really say how much average daily time I spend on it. Maybe 30
to 60 minutes for a quick prep and eating? Shopping and planning are
for other days.
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down."
--Steve Rothstein

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"Mark Thorson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
>I really don't want to think about this. I once went
> to five different supermarkets on the same day looking
> for the chili peppers I wanted. If you include shopping,
> I probably spend about 2 hours a day on food, not counting
> the time I take to eat it. Of course, that's also not
> counting the time I spend reading RFC. :-)

As little as possible...

Now shopping - different story, very different story.

Dimitri

On Sep 9, 6:14*pm, Mark Thorson <nos...@sonic.net> wrote:
> I really don't want to think about this. *I once went
> to five different supermarkets on the same day looking
> for the chili peppers I wanted. *If you include shopping,
> I probably spend about 2 hours a day on food, not counting
> the time I take to eat it. *Of course, that's also not
> counting the time I spend reading RFC. *:-)

Maybe two, but feels like 200 at times.

I'd alter plans before 5 supers for ANYthing.

If I ever knew the time spent on shopping, schlepping, prepping,
cooking and cleanup -------AAAGGGGGHHHH. I don't really wish to know.

Ever figure out the windshield time in your life so far for commuting
to and from a Yob? Scary.

Kalmia wrote:
>
> Ever figure out the windshield time in your life so far for commuting
> to and from a Yob? Scary.

Heh. I've been working at home for about
10 years. That's an important reason why.

It's not just the commute time. It's also
the time spent ironing clothes so I'd be
presentable in the office. Nowadays, I do
most of my work in boxer shorts. :-)

"Mark Thorson" wrote:
>
> I probably spend about 2 hours a day on food, not counting
> the time I take to eat it. Of course, that's also not
> counting the time I spend reading RFC. :-)

I bet you spend *at least* two hours a day pissing and crapping.

In article <[email protected]>,
Mark Thorson <[email protected]> wrote:

> I really don't want to think about this. I once went
> to five different supermarkets on the same day looking
> for the chili peppers I wanted. If you include shopping,
> I probably spend about 2 hours a day on food, not counting
> the time I take to eat it. Of course, that's also not
> counting the time I spend reading RFC. :-)

Preparing food? Maybe an hour, tops, for active prep.

--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller - Yes, I Can! blog - check
it out. And check this, too: <http://www.kare11.com/news/
newsatfour/newsatfour_article.aspx?storyid=823232&catid=323>

There's been one red hot chili pepper I fell in love with. Gave me reason to
shop!

Andy the Ape

Mark Thorson <[email protected]> news:[email protected]: in
rec.food.cooking

> I really don't want to think about this. I once went
> to five different supermarkets on the same day looking
> for the chili peppers I wanted. If you include shopping,
> I probably spend about 2 hours a day on food, not counting
> the time I take to eat it. Of course, that's also not
> counting the time I spend reading RFC. :-)

Not that much time really. An hour or so give or take. Most of it is either
prepping or running to the store for something I'm out of.

Michael

--
“Always tell the truth - it's the easiest thing to remember”
~ American Playwright David Mamet

You can find me at: - michael at lonergan dot us dot com

On Sep 9, 3:14 pm, Mark Thorson <nos...@sonic.net> wrote:
> I really don't want to think about this. I once went
> to five different supermarkets on the same day looking
> for the chili peppers I wanted. If you include shopping,
> I probably spend about 2 hours a day on food, not counting
> the time I take to eat it. Of course, that's also not
> counting the time I spend reading RFC. :-)

This is one of those activities with extremely wide fluctuations. On
non-special cooking days, I'll do a Chinese stirfry and rice, total
time on average less than an hour, or something on the grill, again
less than an hour. Breakfasts and lunches seldom involve anything
special, so probably less than half an hour each.

But we are inspired to do special things fairly often, so once or
twice a week that time could double. And if we're going to do a
dinner party--what's that, about six-week intervals?--that can entail
a serious amount of prep work. My preference whenever the menu
permits is to do everything in advance that can be done in advance, so
as to minimize what needs doing when the people are here. -aem

On Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:14:11 -0700, Mark Thorson wrote:

> I really don't want to think about this. I once went
> to five different supermarkets on the same day looking
> for the chili peppers I wanted. If you include shopping,
> I probably spend about 2 hours a day on food, not counting
> the time I take to eat it. Of course, that's also not
> counting the time I spend reading RFC. :-)

15-30 minutes weekdays. And if I come home for the weekend - which
I have been doing for the last month - about 14 hours (7 hours a day
average which varies greatly depending on where I'm shopping).

-sw

Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Mark Thorson <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I really don't want to think about this. I once went
>> to five different supermarkets on the same day looking
>> for the chili peppers I wanted. If you include shopping,
>> I probably spend about 2 hours a day on food, not counting
>> the time I take to eat it. Of course, that's also not
>> counting the time I spend reading RFC. :-)
>
> Preparing food? Maybe an hour, tops, for active prep.
>

I sometimes watch Rachel Ray preparing her 30 minute meals and wonder
what takes her so long.

In article
<[email protected]>,
Kalmia <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Sep 9, 6:14*pm, Mark Thorson <nos...@sonic.net> wrote:
> > I really don't want to think about this. *I once went
> > to five different supermarkets on the same day looking
> > for the chili peppers I wanted. *If you include shopping,
> > I probably spend about 2 hours a day on food, not counting
> > the time I take to eat it. *Of course, that's also not
> > counting the time I spend reading RFC. *:-)
>
> Maybe two, but feels like 200 at times.
>
> I'd alter plans before 5 supers for ANYthing.
>
> If I ever knew the time spent on shopping, schlepping, prepping,
> cooking and cleanup -------AAAGGGGGHHHH. I don't really wish to know.
>
> Ever figure out the windshield time in your life so far for commuting
> to and from a Yob? Scary.

Commuting to and from work, about 25 to 30 minutes either way, so 50
minutes to 1 hour. I generally shop on my way home from work, so that
saves some time especially since the stores are not crowded at 07:00 so
there is little wait time in line. ;-)
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down."
--Steve Rothstein

[email protected]
Subscribe: [email protected]

Mark Thorson wrote:
> I really don't want to think about this. I once went
> to five different supermarkets on the same day looking
> for the chili peppers I wanted. If you include shopping,
> I probably spend about 2 hours a day on food, not counting
> the time I take to eat it. Of course, that's also not
> counting the time I spend reading RFC. :-)

There was a time when it would take you much longer than that just to
hunt down your prey of choice. We have it easy these days.

Serene
--
42 Magazine, celebrating life with meaning. Inaugural issue is here!
http://42magazine.com

"But here's a handy hint: if your fabulous theory for ending war and
all other human conflict will not survive an online argument with
humourless feminists who are not afraid to throw rape around as an
example, your theory needs work." -- Aqua, alt.polyamory

On Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:50:13 -0700, Serene Vannoy wrote:

> There was a time when it would take you much longer than that just to
> hunt down your prey of choice. We have it easy these days.

Please don't tell us you're going pre-historic on us. It's bad
enough having to listen to the parents and grandparents.

-sw

Sqwertz wrote:
> On Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:50:13 -0700, Serene Vannoy wrote:
>
>> There was a time when it would take you much longer than that just to
>> hunt down your prey of choice. We have it easy these days.
>
> Please don't tell us you're going pre-historic on us.

Nah, just appreciating what I've got. I am thankful for technology and
modern medicine and lots of other things that make my life easier (and
longer!) than it would have been if I'd been born in another time.

Two hours spent daily on feeding the family just doesn't seem like that
much to me.

Serene

--
42 Magazine, celebrating life with meaning. Inaugural issue is here!
http://42magazine.com

"But here's a handy hint: if your fabulous theory for ending war and
all other human conflict will not survive an online argument with
humourless feminists who are not afraid to throw rape around as an
example, your theory needs work." -- Aqua, alt.polyamory

On Sep 9, 6:14*pm, Mark Thorson <nos...@sonic.net> wrote:
> I really don't want to think about this. *I once went
> to five different supermarkets on the same day looking
> for the chili peppers I wanted. *If you include shopping,
> I probably spend about 2 hours a day on food, not counting
> the time I take to eat it. *Of course, that's also not
> counting the time I spend reading RFC. *:-)

About 45 minutes on weekdays, maybe 2 hours on weekends.
Less, if we've got some big project going and order a pizza after
we collapse, as we did last weekend after sealing the driveway.

I have a ten-minute commute (mentioned downthread).

Cindy Hamilton

On Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:14:11 -0700, Mark Thorson <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I really don't want to think about this. I once went
>to five different supermarkets on the same day looking
>for the chili peppers I wanted. If you include shopping,
>I probably spend about 2 hours a day on food, not counting
>the time I take to eat it. Of course, that's also not
>counting the time I spend reading RFC. :-)

The time I spend preparing food is not counted. It is something of a
hobby for me, and by definition a hobby is a way to *waste* time and
money in the pursuit of....happiness. Of course there are times when
I get royally pissed off at whatever I'm cooking, or at a piece of
equipment, or at the wife who is doing it WRONG or at the people who
are getting in the way......but the activity itself is still a big
plus for me.

Best -- Terry

In article <[email protected]>,
Mark Thorson <[email protected]> wrote:

> I really don't want to think about this. I once went
> to five different supermarkets on the same day looking
> for the chili peppers I wanted. If you include shopping,
> I probably spend about 2 hours a day on food, not counting
> the time I take to eat it. Of course, that's also not
> counting the time I spend reading RFC. :-)

A lot. I make all three meals a day. The children are old enough to
help now, so my time is cut down, but I still do most of the work for
most of the meals. Since I also make almost everything we eat from
scratch, that means time spent making bread, yogurt, mayonnaise, etc is
also part of that time.

However, it is worth it to us, and I have ways of spreading the work
through the day and week, so I don't usually have a huge lump of time I
spend on it each day.

Regards,
Ranee @ Arabian Knits

"She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands." Prov 31:13

http://arabianknits.blogspot.com/