WHY DO WE....????????????????????

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The Water Cooler

WHY DO WE....????????????????????

Discuss all things non-baking

A    neighbor/friend of mine( an immigrant from another less wealthy land once asked me:   " why do Americans observe every occasion by cooking so many dishes & eating way too much

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Forums » Baking Forums » The Water Cooler » WHY DO WE....????????????????????

WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 7:18 AM EST

Ann N

Posts: 992
First: 10/7/2010
Last: 8/28/2011

A neighbor/friend of mine( an immigrant from another less wealthy land once asked me:
"why do Americans observe every occasion by cooking so many dishes & eating way too much food?"
I answered by comparing our practice to the way people in other nations celebrate by having " feast days"
"How do you know when a day is really important ; if every ocasion is a" feast day"?
Good question; I didn't have a good answer for her
What do you think? Do we tend to make food too BIG a part of our observances of special days?

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 7:40 AM EST

Ann N

Posts: 992
First: 10/7/2010
Last: 8/28/2011

I think it'sfun to make feasts to share w/ family & friends.
I'm retired and have a lot of time to spend preparing feasts I also think it'is unfair & unrealistic to expect women w/ careers to do what in other times; in other lands households had servants to prepare the feasts held in observance of special occasions Women w/several young children, at home are also tryingto to "DO IT ALL".
I'm AMAZED & IMPRESSED, that many of them manage to put meals on their family tables daily throughout the year.

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 7:51 AM EST

Nancy G

Posts: 6421
First: 6/23/2010
Last: 5/20/2013

I know when a day is really important when it brings glory to God and our country.

She's probably correct when he says we produce and eat way too much food.
Maybe we should think about producing less and giving that portion to some church
preparing a meal for the homeless or hungry.

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 8:01 AM EST

Renee C

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First: 9/10/2008
Last: 5/18/2013

Because long standing traditions are hard to break! If you think about it, this has been going on since the Old Testament days!

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 8:12 AM EST

Julie B

Posts: 482
First: 11/9/2009
Last: 12/17/2011

i think we should celebrate the way we want to celebrate. sure at times we all go overboard..i do understand what your friend means, all that food could be a month supply for some families.we throw so much away in the world. i love leftovers, some people refuse to eat them.i always send people home with food.
food is away to reach people, to be together. it is a huge part of the holidays...that is why we will all be out running to burn it off.. oh well.enjoy

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 8:19 AM EST

Mary Ann S

Posts: 2719
First: 1/16/2009
Last: 5/20/2013

Every day of life is a gift from God and should be celebrated. Preparing food is one way to give to each other. Yes, each one of us cold probably eat less. During holidays I often start making one thing and often think of something else my family would enjoy. I guess one should prioritize and set limits. Also someone in the family will ask or suggest something they would like to have made. Mary Ann S.

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 8:21 AM EST

Erica D

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First: 10/8/2010
Last: 3/29/2013

My very favorite part of our holiday season is preparing the feast for my family and friends to enjoy. I also make sure I provide a turkey and some non-perishables to our local Salvation Army pantry so others may have a special meal as well. I'll admit I prepare way too much for a single meal, but we then can enjoy the leftovers for several days!

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 8:41 AM EST

Margo C

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First: 11/15/2010
Last: 11/15/2010

the problem isn't because we celebrate the Holidays with food... the real problem is that we overdo it on the in-between days. If every day is a feast day, it makes the Holidays seem that much less important. We need to cut back more on feasting when there isn't a special occasion. I've had to tell the kids that not every meal needs to be a special event; usually it's ok to just eat a sandwich & call it energy.

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 9:19 AM EST

JOHN H

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Last: 12/5/2011

Good question

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 9:57 AM EST

irma d

Posts: 528
First: 10/6/2010
Last: 6/11/2011

Food sharing is nurturing and therapeutic for many. Eating is a basic need for us. For my family we love to cook and share what we have with others. We also love to eat and make it a special family time to come together and reconnect.

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 10:16 AM EST

Ann N

Posts: 992
First: 10/7/2010
Last: 8/28/2011

I LOVETO COOK( and eat too.)
I've no problem w/folks cooking & eating a"feast' if that is their choice & doesn't overly stress the family budget or cook
I hear too many people complain about how much time & $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ they"must spend" for the holiday meal.I like the idea of donating the ingredients(or a check) to a food pantry to help others also beable to enjoy the pleasure of a special meal; or even just meals on a regular basis

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 10:29 AM EST

Ann N

Posts: 992
First: 10/7/2010
Last: 8/28/2011

JULIE B;
You are RIGHT If people SHARE their blessings w/others we wil all have something more to be thankful for.My neighbor's confusion was prompted by her observation of how ( so many of us overdo because we can) & do not feel any gratitude that we were able to.
Instead of being appreciative, & sharing; we complain.

think we should celebrate the way we want to celebrate. sure at times we all go overboard..i do understand what your friend means, all that food could be a month supply for some families.we throw so much away in the world. i love leftovers, some people refuse to eat them.i always send people home with food. food is away to reach people, to be together. it is a huge part of the holidays...that is why we will all be out running to burn it off.. oh well.enjoy
Posted by Julie B[/QUOTE]

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 10:34 AM EST

Ann N

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Last: 8/28/2011

RENEE C;
YES; Traditions are hard to break;how about starting a new tradition????????????: sharing our bounty w/ those in need? In Response to Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????:

Because long standing traditions are hard to break! If you think about it, this has been going on since the Old Testament days!
Posted by Renee C

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 10:41 AM EST

Ann N

Posts: 992
First: 10/7/2010
Last: 8/28/2011

NANCY;Yes,breaking w/ tradition is not easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOTHING(really) WORTHWHILE EVER IS( easy)
How about starting some new traditions?: being greatful & then SHARING OUR BOUNTY W/OTHERS?????????

In Response to Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????:

I know when a day is really important when it brings glory to God and our country. She's probably correct when he says we produce and eat way too much food. Maybe we should think about producing less and giving that portion to some church preparing a meal for the homeless or hungry.
Posted by Nancy G

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 8:38 PM EST

Susan K

Posts: 1457
First: 10/19/2009
Last: 2/11/2012

I think you could look at it with many reasons...why? Years ago, families consisted of Mom, Dad and about 5 or more children, so, there were always big meals. Also, all that food had to last because things were tight and I think our ancestors, didn't have a lot of money but there were always plenty of food because of all the farming. And all this was just carried down from generation to generation.

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 9:21 PM EST

Nancy G

Posts: 6421
First: 6/23/2010
Last: 5/20/2013

"didn't have a lot of money but there were always plenty of food because of all the farming"

I grew up on a small farm and there was always a LOT to eat ... a lot of good food, meat, butter. I did not know how poor we were until we moved into the city when I was in the 5th grade. A very painful experience.

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/15/2010 11:12 PM EST

Judy B

Posts: 7
First: 11/5/2009
Last: 11/28/2010

My family does not eat like it is Thanksgiving everyday. This way the holidays are a treat.

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/16/2010 5:10 AM EST

Mary Jo T

Posts: 1061
First: 10/2/2008
Last: 5/10/2013

I am in agreement with Judy B that our family does not eat a lot except on special days like Thanksgiving. Both my husband and myself are losing weight and we save celebrations like Thanksgiving just for that reason.

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/16/2010 5:54 AM EST

Maxine M

Posts: 2937
First: 9/5/2010
Last: 5/21/2013

Don't worry be happy. Feast, birthday , holiday.

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Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????

posted at 11/16/2010 6:04 AM EST

Ann N

Posts: 992
First: 10/7/2010
Last: 8/28/2011

NANCY;My own memories of childhood "poverty"came back as I read your post
"In a home filled w/love there is no "rea"l hunger". (spiritualoremotional hunger is worse than anempty tummy My great grand-p arents were immigrants & farmers.Theyhad 11 kids & & newer immigrantfarmhands. I doubt any of them ever went hungry.
MyGreat grandma; spent hours in her"kitchen garden"; tending her crops; helpinging the field; sewing clothing for them all & thenhen cooking mealsThey ate lots o fres vegies legumes; little meat ( a freshk illed hicken once a week sharedbyeveryone..Nobody ever "said"I don't like that";Or"I won't eat that". They were greatful to have a place to sit at a table filled w/food;prepared w/love
inacountry wherethey couldlive&work hardw/o fearofbeing taken away to die because of their religous or politica lbeliefs.Unlike kids today; htere were no after school snacks .There were lots of chores to do help build good appetites;
My own Mom( a single Mom;w orked a full time (low paying)job to supoprt us We lived in the city. She was not a very good cook.
She prepared meals from food stuffs donated to us by the butcher & green grocer.A meal might consist of grilled liverwurst & beet greesn. A Dessert (rare)might be a slightly blemished grapefruit, shared.I too did not realize how poor we were til we moved to the suburbs to allow me to get aget a muh better education.Only then did I realize how poor we had been.My classmates might have been the very same ones ones whose donated clothing I had worn proudly for years.Liverwurst was something" w dont eat'; we feed it to our dogs After school snacks were bought at restaurantsw/ allowancesof $3-$5week; not the $.25 week I had been so happy to recieve, I workedsummers & babysat evenningstherestoftheueartoearnmneyto buy clothing for school. we walkedeverywhere( no car & bus fares took away money from grocery budget money.Stil lon holidays; my Momi nvited mytschool frien s to join us for dinner.The little we had was gladly shared In the company of good friends,we somehow managed to eat evenless & still be satisfied. In the city we had been the wealthy ones( so many ofo urneighbors had far less than us. Dads had been killed ormaimed in thewar;Mom'softenspokenoEnglish & had little education. many were immigrants from lands where genocide & extreme poverty were the norm. MuMomhd grownup relatively wealthy&goneto college. She was ableto get a good job. Onhoidys/birthdays Igave my extra gifts ( lots ofgenrous Great Aunts & 7Uncle) s to ourm yneighbors kids IunderstoodthatI did not really need 3 dolls when the kid accross the hall had no dolls..I never minded;I wasjustgladIcouldmake theirlivesalittlehapier.Their Moms looked after me when I came home from school & my own Mom was sti l at work
In Response to Re: WHY DO WE....????????????????????:

"didn't have a lot of money but there were always plenty of food because of all the farming" I grew up on a small farm and there was always a LOT to eat ... a lot of good food, meat, butter. I did not know how poor we were until we moved into the city when I was in the 5th grade. A very painful experience.
Posted by Nancy G

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