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> Teach people to cook and value the experience. I'm not so sure about this. I very much value healthy eating, but I'm not so sure how effective I am at doing

> Teach people to cook and value the experience. I'm not so sure about this. I very much value healthy eating, but I'm not so sure how effective I am at doing so, and I've never been a "foodie". Some people deeply care about food -- about the taste, about the culture behind it, about the social experience of eating it. They get excited about going to new restaurants, and will talk about the food while they're ordering and eating it. (I tend to find these conversations a bit mystifying, and not have anything to contribute.) And, they tend to enjoy cooking. Personally, this is not something that has captured my imagination; I regard cooking as a chore. If I have a lot of energy after work, then I'd rather go out than stay in cooking. Perhaps, one day, I will "see the light" and become a devoted foodie. Until then, I imagine there is room for a startup to sell to me.

mattwest 7y ago
Coming from someone who felt the same about cooking for most of my life, I can say it happened almost overnight for me. Michael Pollan does a good job of dissecting the history of cooking/food and it's relationship to our health. Reading some of his work might be a good catalyst if you feel like giving it another try.
- impendia 7y ago
  I've read some Pollan, In Defense of Food I believe. Certainly enough to convince me that nutrition matters. I just don't get all that excited about food. For example, I'm currently visiting a research collaborator and friend away from home. Last night, even though he is unable to eat out due to health concerns, he insisted on taking me out to dinner. I was happy and grateful -- but despite the fact that he would be eating nothing, he was more excited by the menu than I was! And more generally, I've been disappointed that eating together is the "default" social activity. Social life (at least at my age, and where I live) seems to be centered around getting a meal, drinks, or coffee. I've tried to expand things by inviting friends to more eclectic activities, but they usually haven't been interested. The one exception is when I have a bunch of friends over for a party, then I do get excited about cooking. But that's an occasional thing. Were your circumstances at all similar to mine?

mattwest 7y ago

Coming from someone who felt the same about cooking for most of my life, I can say it happened almost overnight for me. Michael Pollan does a good job of dissecting the history of cooking/food and it's relationship to our health. Reading some of his work might be a good catalyst if you feel like giving it another try.

impendia 7y ago
I've read some Pollan, In Defense of Food I believe. Certainly enough to convince me that nutrition matters. I just don't get all that excited about food. For example, I'm currently visiting a research collaborator and friend away from home. Last night, even though he is unable to eat out due to health concerns, he insisted on taking me out to dinner. I was happy and grateful -- but despite the fact that he would be eating nothing, he was more excited by the menu than I was! And more generally, I've been disappointed that eating together is the "default" social activity. Social life (at least at my age, and where I live) seems to be centered around getting a meal, drinks, or coffee. I've tried to expand things by inviting friends to more eclectic activities, but they usually haven't been interested. The one exception is when I have a bunch of friends over for a party, then I do get excited about cooking. But that's an occasional thing. Were your circumstances at all similar to mine?