Convenience foods in the forms of microwave dinners and boxed macaroni & cheese have been in our supermarkets for quite a while. But many are balking at the increasing popularity of pre-sliced and pre-chopped produce. Some call the pre-cut and plastic wrapped vegetables just plain “lazy” and the unnecessary packaging bad for the environment. Others say eliminating the slicing and dicing is beneficial to the elderly, those with arthritis, and those who are strapped for time (although some studies show that convenience foods don’t save as much time as you’d think).
It seems that for most people, fruits and vegetables are the last foods with which they have somewhat of a connection. Even at the supermarket, we handle these items in the state in which they come off of the plant (minus their waxy coating and pre-washing). We squeeze and prod, pretending to know how to determine the ripeness of each individual piece of produce, and when we get home we spend time preparing the fruit or vegetable for our needs. With ready-prepared produce we increase our disconnect to what we eat, and push the convenience line a little further. But how much longer before we forget what our food is supposed to look and taste like?
In my house, we try to purchase as much fresh, uncut produce and vegetables as possible. Do you ever buy pre-sliced or pre-packaged foods to save on time?
Image via Cranky Media Guy
