Aj Schwanz

It’s been well documented that I like stuff dealing in the realm of the edible (when you refer to hosts on the Food Network as family members, it might be time to get some help).¬† I’ve been struggling as of late how to lead an intentional life in suburbia, which can be particularly challenging in regards to eating.¬† One generally shops at an impersonal megafood store for food that’s affordable but probably not so wholesome, and then one drives home to prepare it for one’s immediate family - home-cooked can mean actually preparing food or unwrapping and microwaving it at home.
I was reading Cooking Light, and they’ve been advocating the idea of supper clubs.¬† Most of them take place in an urban area:¬† folks get together once a week and share a meal, mostly to try new foods.¬† But this time the magazine ran an article on a set of three neighbors:¬† on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday they trade meals (family A cooks three meals on¬† Monday and takes them to families B and C; family B does the same on Wednesday; family C on Friday).¬† Once a month they gather together for a large gathering.¬† The preparers get together and evaluate how the¬† meals worked, food considerations, etc.¬† They have “get out of jail free” cards for when families travel.¬† What a great idea!¬† If only I knew my neighbors . . .

The other neat thing they highlighted was Community Supported Agriculture.¬† Folks can either spend time in a community garden at a local farm and have picking rights, or they can have a subscription to get a basket of fresh veggies, fruits, flowers, and herbs weekly.¬† There’s actually some places that do it in my area.¬† It seems a little spendy, but I wonder if it’d be cheaper in the long run - not buying as much at the grocery store because I know I have stuff to use up at home.¬† The farms are organic and local:¬† all good things to support - both for the farms and for healthier eating.

Do you have any ways that you are intentional about your eating habits?¬† If you live in the ‘berg, do you wanna do sumthin together?