20-friggin-22

A groan left my lips as I listened to the thud of the Chipotle bag hitting the kitchen counter — marking the third purchased, made-to-order meal of the day to feed me, my wife, and our three children. I was perplexed. Not because they forgot my side of guacamole, but because I had purchased all three meals that day. Yes: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And if I’m honest… there are many days just like this one.

“How has it come to this?” I lamented to my wife. As we choked down the made-to-order mediocrity, all we could come up with was: “It just saves us time.”

It just saves us time??

In what world has food become the afterthought?

What’s taking precedence? The email that needs to be returned. The phone call you need to answer. That TPS report you need to finish.

Yes, there are many demands — but oh my goodness, are our forefathers rolling over in their graves because we no longer make the time to prepare, sit, and eat food as a family.

It’s a new year. Make the decision: What is taking up your time? What plates are you choosing to spin?

I’ve spun some plates in my day — many of them, in fact. And I hate to break it to you, but the wrong plates, or too many plates, won’t take you very far. So maybe this year, swap out some plates. Or get rid of a couple. Then put a fresh lobster tail on them… and see what happens.