Cooking: Caveman Style v. Radioactive Style

Over the weekend, while trying to squeeze the daily "necessity" of deciding what do have for dinner into my study-crammed saturday schedule, I was stuck on the question of either BBQ or a Microwavable meal. Really, what is the difference, both provide a fast hot meal...right?

Well I started thinking about it a realized they both have their benefits and downfalls, but for me there was a clear winner.

A meal made on the bbq represents something more than just a quick and easy meal. In our society a bbq represents a social/family gathering, and is usually associated with a a good time. Bbq's are reminiscent of fun, laughter and good home-made food. With a bbq the food is (most likely) guaranteed to be fresh. For those of you that think menu including bbq will be limited to hotdogs and hamburgers will be surprised with what they can find with a quick search on the Food Network's website. There are entire cookbooks dedicated to the art of cooking on the bbq and nothing else. A bbq chef could have an array of veggies, steaks, kabobs, seafood and there are even bbq themed desserts!

Another added benefit is the nutritional aspect of bbq foods. If you choose lean meats for the bbq combined with your favorite vegetables you can make a very delicious and nutritional meal.

Enough with the positive, we must now cross into the dark side... into the side of reality. We all live in a very fast-paced world that is extremely time demanding. The number of stay-at-home moms (or dads) that spend the whole day cooking dinner are quickly disappearing. The demands of a declining economy have forced both parents of any type of traditional household to step out into the work-field and gain money for their family. After a draining day at work, and a car ride in traffic this leaves the dreaded question of, "So Hunny, what is for dinner?" Then commences the scramble to see what is the fastest thing before the Batchelor, Lost or anything on crucial on ESPN begins. Usually dinner prep time, during the work week is limited to thirty minutes or less. This is definitely not enough time to sauté some vegetables, defrost and marinate chicken or steak, toss a salad, and bake a warm delicious dessert. By the time you scan the fridge and freezer most of the time has elapsed anyways. It is very common for a person to resort to a quick and easy meal. Even at times, one must resort to the microwave.

A microwavable dinner might seem to do the trick for speed simplicity, but is it really the best choice? A meal that can be cooked in under four minutes and thirty seconds should raise some red flags for the consumers. Even though it sounds better to have a "Tuscan Style chicken pasta with sun dried tomatoes", one must take into account the amount of chemicals that are added for it to last months in a freezer. I have read countless articles and blogs warning people of the health dangers of frozen foods. I will just subtly relay the message that THEY ARE NOT EQUIVALENT TO FRESH FOOD!!! =) Don't put your family's health at risk, especially if you have young children in the household by basing their diets on frozen microvable food.

There seems to be very little "healthy" food that can be cooked instantly in the microwave. Yet, on the other hand, a bbq dinner can provide the nutrients that a are lacking with the quick and easy microwave. I understand that I might be asking for a lot by asking you to actually attempt to cook a whole meal within thirty minutes, but a bbq can make that happen. Bbq cooking is very low maintenance, for most meals. For a simple chicken breast or kabob you lift the top, place meat on the grill, and close the top. Occasionally check the grill about 5 minutes in and then again another 5 minutes later. Total cooking time should be about 25 minutes. That's all!! It really is that simple, and you can get creative with your vegetables or seasoning, and even experiment with those bbq desserts.

Another simple decision made here on low tech v. high tech. I would definitely choose the low tech caveman style bbq over a high tech microwave any day. Take my advice and test the bbq idea on a saturday. Its a simple equation, add some friends some drinks, some food, a griller, and share some laughs. Beats standing in front of a microwave counting seconds by yourself doesn't it?