Sara Levine
Features Editor
When walking into the local Walmart, it’s hard not to notice the pre-cut vegetable aisles, pre-made dinner refrigerators, and even large fast food chains within the superstore. Because made-to-go-food is accessible to us at all hours of the day, many choose to eat these convenient and easy meals.
Students are left questioning the effects of choosing prepared food over home-cooked meals. “I think cooking has become less popular because instant meals are so convenient, fast food has taken over our country, and it takes like 30 seconds to make food in the microwave,” sophomore Naomi Newman said.
Sophomore George Herde agreed. “A lot of people our age can’t cook. My sister can’t make ice, honestly,” he said.
However, many students see the value in learning how to cook and even find it to be entertaining. “Cooking is more of a hobby for me, but it’s good to have certain skills since I’ll need it for the rest of my life,” senior Nick White said.
While cooking may still be a popular family pastime, it has come to enter the household in ways other than through the kitchen, such as through technology like TV and the Internet. There are currently eleven reality cooking shows just related to cake, such as Cake Boss and The Next Great Baker. As Dustin Smith, communications head at TLC Discovery Network, explained, “Food is now more than just a meal to feed your family- it’s an experience.”
The cooking hype caused by The Food Network has put food in a new light that focuses on artistic creativity and entertainment. “The Food Network has helped promote cooking by bringing personality to the kitchen,” Family & Consumer Sciences teacher Donna Sapienza said. “It makes it look more interesting and easy to do.”
Some students disagree that the Food Network reflects cooking in such a positive light. “When I watch the Food Network, it’s entertaining, but I feel like everything is exaggerated and they’re almost making fun of it,” Naomi said.
Other students feel pressured by this new level of cooking, brought to us by such networks, and don’t know how to make both good looking and good tasting food. “At first, I was kind of intimidated by the artistic side of cooking. I’d see these pictures that the meal was supposed to turn out like and compare it to what I made,” Nick said. “Now that I know how to cook, I don’t really feel that way anymore.”
That being said, according to Ms. Sapienza, “When you’re at home and not selling the food, it doesn’t matter how it looks. As long as it tastes good and you’re enjoying it, then that’s all that counts.”
Students at NCHS are given the opportunity to explore possible culinary careers through electives such as Culinary Essentials and Baking and Pastry Arts. Ms. Sapienza stressed the importance for students to know how to cook, even if it’s just on a basic level. “Everyone should at least learn how to make a few simple meals. I mean, you can only eat boxed mac and cheese for so long,” she said.
Nick agreed. “You should know how to make basic things, like a sandwich. But complex meals aren’t really necessary, they’re just fun to do,” he said.
Learning how to cook can also have financial advantages for students in the future. “In college, food is so expensive and knowing how to cook a quick meal will be really useful,” junior Molly James said.
And with the rapid growth of food-related reality shows and competitions, people are starting to realize the benefits that come with knowing how to cook. As Ms. Sapienza explained, “Ten years ago, I didn’t think food would be as popular in the media as it is today. So who knows, maybe the cooking trend is here to stay.”
