WP2: Three Types of Meals
I was not sure what to do for my second writing project. Should I do some sort of interview? Video? Short film? I am not really the creative type and I despise talking about myself, so this was a challenge to me. I started my first project with what I knew, which happened to be my experiences over the past year or so. It delved into my relationship with food and I decided I wanted to try three different eating experiences and discover their PURPOSE to me. I decided to put my relationship to food to the test by actively and mindfully trying each type of meal I enjoy and noticing my surroundings. The questions I attempted to answer was this:
What is the role each meal plays in my life?
The three types of meals that I decided to try were eating at a restaurant by myself, cooking for myself at home, and sharing a meal with friends (that I cooked). I almost viewed this as a middle school science project. There is a central question (what purpose/role do they serve), three variables, and observations. The purpose of my WP2 was not necessarily to come to a conclusion, but to see where each experience takes me, what I was doing during the entire experience, and what I realized about the significance of each meal. As I was starting my WP2, I really wanted to have some sort of profound revelation that would be easy to write about. After reflecting I realized that was not my purpose at all. I aimed to be conscious of the mundane and the exciting within each experience and see what I discovered.
Meal #1
Eating alone at a restaurant.
As I wrote in my first writing project, eating alone was intimidating to me. It feels like people are watching you, judging you for being alone, and it can seem boring. I grew to enjoy eating alone occasionally at restaurants. Over the past year I had grown accustomed to being alone more, whether it was during my travels abroad or working this summer, as my schedule was not aligned with my friends as it was during college. I try to do an activity or go somewhere once a month.
For this meal, I decided to take the metro to Santa Monica and walk to one of my favorite restaurants, Cha Cha Chicken. It’s a Caribbean restaurant that looks like a hole-in-the-wall, but has a nice outdoor seating area and great music. I first went here years ago when I was touring USC with my parents and I try to make it a point to go back every once in a while. Also, it gave me an excuse to go to the beach. My favorite part of going to a restaurant alone is being able to listen to the conversations around me. The couple arguing to my right about something I couldn’t figure out, the family that couldn’t decide what to get, etc. I ordered my usual, which was half a jerk chicken, rice and beans, plantains, and a chocolate banana milkshake. It was delicious and I could barely finish it. I also am an extremely slow eater so I took all the time I wanted. Afterwards, I went to the beach for a bit and swam. I got bored and wanted someone to talk to, so I went home on the metro covered in sand. I tried to jump the turnstile but there were cops waiting right by there. I begrudgingly paid the $2 fare. I swear transportation in Los Angeles is bad on purpose to force people to Uber everywhere.
Trying to answer the question of what role does this type of meal play in my life had me attempting to search for some profound answer. I could not think of one. I needed some time for my social battery to recharge and to get away from constantly hanging out with people. A simple outing and eating at Cha Cha Chicken was a great reset for me. I felt ready to go back to living with eight of my friends.
Meal #2
Cooking for myself.
I was always terrified that I was going to undercook chicken, which resulted in me never wanting to cook it. If I did, I usually ended up burning it. Repetition is key to overcoming this fear. Low-to-medium heat, getting a nice sear on either side and eyeballing when it is done are all skills I have proudly picked up. After class on a Monday night is when I decided it would be a ripe opportunity to make something for myself. I had just gone to Trader Joe’s a few days before and the avocados I bought were ripe. I had a chicken breast in the fridge and a bag of rice. Lime and garlic chicken with avocado over rice is my go-to meal when I want to eat healthy and have enough time to do so. I poured the rice with water into a pan with a metal tray as the lid as we don’t have any pots. That usually works. I gathered an assortment of seasonings and chopped up some garlic. I am not sure if putting garlic in the pan is as effective as garlic powder but I do it anyway as my roommates always ask “what smells so good?” Once it starts sizzling, I get my ego boost for the day. After I am done cooking, I chop up the chicken with the rice into a bowl and put half an avocado in it too. Next, I douse it in any hot sauce I can find. My roommates are playing catch outside so I eat it on the porch and join them mid-dinner.
Once again, no major revelations were had. It’s a pretty routine part of my day.The purpose it serves? A great stress reliever, a way to focus on something other than my daily life’s tasks. But when I am exhausted and have no time, it’s a pain and a chore, time that could have been spent on other things. It just depends on what else is going on in my life.
Meal #3
Sharing a meal.
My favorite type of meal is sharing it with others, especially when cooking is involved. This year I realized I loved cooking for and with my roommates. I decided to grill, because meat over a flame is the extent of what I am confident in cooking. I got a few skirt steaks and some chicken for an easy taco Tuesday. I made a marinade from lime juice, soy sauce, and a bunch of random seasonings we had laying around. I threw it on the grill and once again eyeballed it until it was done. The inside of the steaks were undercooked so I had to redo them but they turned out great. I spent more time cutting them in the dark outside than actually cooking them. I then heated up the tortillas and laid out the cheese, jalapenos, and salsa. My roommates were very appreciative and even though we were arguing about pointless stuff all day, we were able to have a nice laugh and enjoy a meal together outside.
Thankfully, they offered to do the dishes too, which I was surprised about. This experience, although more labor-intensive, is my favorite kind of meal. I love how it brings us all together and I also enjoy the ego boost of them telling me how great it tastes.
What I learned from the process of consciously eating and cooking these meals was how each one is necessary for me in a different way. Even though I would consider myself an outgoing person, I need some time alone every once in a while, and enjoy not cooking. The first experience is like a therapy session that I attend monthly, something I can have to myself and look forward to. Cooking for myself feels like a necessary habit, something to take my mind off the day’s work and tasks. It’s not glamorous but it gets the job done. I love focusing on the process and feeling like I created something in between a busy day. Cooking for others and sharing a meal satisfies the need to bond with those I am closest with and allows me to relax when I have the time to do so.
Each meal serves a different role in my life. A therapy session, a necessary break, and the desire for social interaction and bonding. I thought I would find something more profound relating to my life, but I really just discovered that a meal can serve any purpose you make it.
