Thursday, February 3, 2011

I want to be a Home Economics teacher...

... but a really cool one that doesn't make you tote around a sack of flour and pretend it's a baby!

I just finished reading an article at the NY Times by Mark Bittman. He is a big name in the food world. I currently have his book Kitchen Express checked out from the library. I really fell in love with him when I watched him on Spain... On the Road Again. It was this great show where Mario Batali toured Spain with Bittman, actress Gweneth Paltrow, and this too cute for words Spanish actress. It comes on PBS and I actually stalk there website hoping it will rerun again soon!

Back to me wanting to be a home economics teacher. If you've talked to my friends, you'll know that I have wanted to be a lot of things. And who is to say that I can't do them all in one lifetime? I am eating a ton of vegetables... so hopefully I've added lots of years to my life. So in this article, Bittman is discussing things that need to change to heal our food system. In case you haven't heard... it's broken. Completely! Watch any food documentary and you'll leave wanting to never eat sausage again - not because of what's in it, but because the way the animals are raised, killed, and processed . It's also horrific for the workers!

One of the points that he talks about made me sit up straight and say "YES! That is what I want to do!" Read on my friends...

Encourage and subsidize home cooking. (Someday soon, I’ll write about my idea for a new Civilian Cooking Corps.) When people cook their own food, they make better choices. When families eat together, they’re more stable. We should provide food education for children (a new form of home ec, anyone?), cooking classes for anyone who wants them and even cooking assistance for those unable to cook for themselves.

I so want to be a home ec teacher. I want to teach kids how to make real budgets, cook real food, and learn real skills that will benefit them their whole lives. This is part of the reason I have this blog. I am teaching you all that cooking with fresh foods is only as hard as you make it. Once you realize that all you need is a good knife (and truly... that is the secret to cooking) - then you'll realize that cooking isn't so bad after all.

Please go and read the whole article. It's apparently the first in his series on food issues.

4 comments:

  1. I loved his "The Minimalist" column in the NYT. He stopped doing that one or two weeks ago to write this new one. I think teaching home economics would be a great career given how well you seem to be doing with your cooking. You tend to focus on living minimally and eating healthy, which is something children today could really learn how to do.

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  2. I think this is a great idea, Mandy! It seems to me that Home Ec can move beyond what it was when I was in junior high. If you taught about sustainable living, budgeting, and basic cooking skills, it would be such a great service to all families! You could even take field trips to urban gardens and maybe even grow some things at the school!

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  3. Settle down people. I didn't say I was signing up to be a home ec teacher. There is currently NO DEMAND for this, so while I would love to do it - it's not going to happen right now.

    But I am glad to know you all think I'd be a good fit.

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  4. Hi.I found your blog under the 52 letters project and was hoping you could help us in our 2,011 letter project.We are trying to collect 2,011 letters from all around the world...it's not just about getting the letters,but learning about other people and other countries,states,etc. We hope you can join to help us reach our goal...we are getting sign ups everyday,but have a long way to go. :) Please also help us spread the word if you can.Thanks!
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