Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or food "openmindedness") show in your meals at home

I REFUSE to use any type of premade/packaged/instant/helper/aroni anything

I make my own spice rubs and marinades. I cringe at the idea of using jarred sauces, preseasoned raw meats (like Perdue done its or whatever) and when I cook, I cook for real.

I don't have kids.

and people say that may change, BUT my husband knows how I feel about cooking, and I think we are BOTH hoping to continue in the "I cook for real and don't heat up what other people have already made" vein.

will that happen, I don't know...but I will surely turn my nose up at MYSELF, the day I open a box of Shake n Bake.

ETS: I've decided that the inverse of "food snob" will be "openminded eater" lest someone think I am being judgmental.

ETA: I DO use the following "short cut" products...though I don't consider these to be "prepackaged" since there is no "seasoning involved.





and VERY occasionally,




I don't do it often at all, but I can't say never either...and I like to keep it honest.

Message edited 3/22/2007 3:52:54 PM.

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or lack of it) show in your meals at home

Yep. And I tease DH b/c he grew up on "pre-packaged" foods & TV dinners growing up. The first time I cooked for him he was like...wow you went over board. I make lemon chicken...I did not see the big deal

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or lack of it) show in your meals at home

considering everything we generally cook in my house is out of a box or instant or frozen, I'd say there is no food snobbiness in my house. But that is also because I HATE to cook...I am definitely much more snobby about the food I am paying for outside in a restaurant...

although, I do love McDonalds here and there, so I guess I'm not that snobby!!

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or lack of it) show in your meals at home

well, I am in the middle... I am def. more of a snob at restaurants then I am at home

I don't buy tv dinners EVER, I don't buy precooked meals EVER... etc
BUT I have used bought marinades (even though I am beginning to create my own now more), I have used Jarred Sauce- not tomatoe -my mom makes her and freezes it for me , but I buy Victoria's Vodka Sauce and then spice it up myself...


I forgot- sometimes I will use frozen veggies too- NEVER in a can though

Message edited 3/22/2007 10:34:22 AM.

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or lack of it) show in your meals at home

we make natural things for the most part. I do buy pre-packaged things because I am a vegetarian- so it's stuff like veggie burgers, etc. But- we do our own salad dressings, etc.

I also keep some South Beach Diet frozen pizza's in the freezer when I only want to spend 3 mins making dinner.

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or lack of it) show in your meals at home

I don't have time to make everything from scratch, so yes I used jar sauce and other "easy" ways out.

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or lack of it) show in your meals at home

I'm not one for prepackaged anything either... although with the work being the way it has the past 2 weeks,that has gone by the wayside.

I absolutely prefer to do everything from scratch... marinades, salad dressings, sauces, etc..... I love to cook and create dishes. It helps to keep things more healthy, and keeps DH from eating his famous hunk of salami and cheese plate for dinner

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or lack of it) show in your meals at home

I love to cook, and as much as I'd love to make everything from scratch, a lot of times it's just not possible. We have a 10 month old, plus we go to the gym a few times a week, so I need to be able to make something fast for dinner. I plan all our meals for the week on Sunday so that I can make fast dinners that are healthy too. Most of the time everything is fresh, and we eat only organic meat. I'm also starting an herb garden this spring (finally!)
I try to use as many non-preserved foods as I can, but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do!

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or lack of it) show in your meals at home

I don't use packaged pre-made things either - although DH can't seem to want to let go of his Stouffers french bread pizza

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or lack of it) show in your meals at home

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or lack of it) show in your meals at home

DH being diabetic I have to make everything from scratch...I don't use any boxed foods since I have to watch sugars & carbs......

We are also on a health kick and only shop at Whole Foods Market and buy only organic foods...Our meats also need to be organic (or bought only from a good butcher) since most packaged meats have added hormones which impact blood glucose.....

Also, being born in Europe I never knew about boxed or microwable foods since everything is made from scratch in my family......

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or lack of it) show in your meals at home

I grew up in a house where my mom basically cooked everything from scratch. When we complained about food, she used to threaten us that she was going to serve us Chef Boyerde (sp?) or Hamburger Helper.

When I went away to college, I was horrified when my roommate made instant mashed potatos. As the years went on, my mom started to take help where she could get it (jarred sauce, etc.).

I, on the other hand, am no where near as talented of a cook as my mom nor do I have the time. I definitely prefer making things from scratch, but it's just not always an option so I use help where I can get it. I frequently make frozen oven fries that I season myself or I use rice a roni. I am also a huge fan of Fresh Direct - they have some really good ready to cook meals (such as marinated loin of pork) that are great for me during the week. That being said, there are some things that you will never catch me making such as instant mashed potatos, CHef Boyarde and Hamburger Helper!

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or lack of it) show in your meals at home

Yes, I am a self-procalimed cook-at-home-snob as well.

I make my own hamburgers, turkey burgers, sauce, some salad dressings and even pizza.

I refuse to by jarred sauce (oh the horror!!!!! ) precooked chicken, TV Dinners (besides WW) and I HATE the Kraft singels which DH loves.

I rarely even buy bagged salads...

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or lack of it) show in your meals at home

I predominately use pre-made/packaged foods. (In the summer I tend use fresh ingredients more, but that's because we're grilling.) And if I'm not "cooking", we're eating out or getting take out from a restaurant (that's usually 3x's a week.)

I HATE to cook, mostly because I don't really enjoy food like others. I don't eat much in general and I've always been that way.

People tell me that my mother was (and still is) an awesome cook and could never understand how I don't enjoy food. My father is great cook too. (He owned a restaurant/bar back in the day and his family grew everything fresh, as well as raised a lot of the animals they ate. I remember as a kid seeing the spices drying in my great-grandmother's basement.)

I do wish I enjoyed cooking, moreso for my DH and DD's sake, but as much as I try, I have no interest in it. Maybe once we remodel the kitchen I'll have a miraculous interest in cooking.

It's weird because my sister loves to cook and try new foods. We're such polar opposites.

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or lack of it) show in your meals at home

I have found that I've used less and less prepared foods as my children get older, rather than the opposite. I am very conscious of what they eat. They definitely get their fair share of crap outside our home, but in it, I know they eat well. I am not as vigilant about myself, but I should be, and I'm always moving closer to my goal.

We are a weight obsessed society, and if people just took the time to eat one ingredient foods (poultry, fish, fruit and vegetables) and learned to use seasonings for flavor we'd all be in a better place, myself included.

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or lack of it) show in your meals at home

Nope, last week I made shake and bake chicken and chicken rice from a pack and DH commented on how it was the best meal ever! I have the food taste of a child, so prepackaged works well for me. I will splurge and buy more expensive jarred marinara though. My cat's favorite food was shake and bake pork chops.

Message edited 3/22/2007 11:14:02 AM.

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or food "openmindedness") show in your meals at home

The only jarred sauce I will buy is Rao's. 1. It's all natural 2. I've eaten there and it's the real thing

With that said, I definitely try to limit the "Prepared" factor of my meals to bottle dressings. I do make mac and cheese from the box. I'm not going to lie about that one - sometimes you just need a fix!

Other than that I don't use the short cuts/ pre seasoned meats. More because I think they are way too salty and use too many preservatives.

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or food "openmindedness") show in your meals at home

I use both prepared and fresh foods, often in the same meal. I worka scheudle that has me either eating dinner at 4pm before I rush out for work, or at 1am when I gt home, so quciker is better.

One prepared aspect I can't get away from are vegetarian meat substitutes. but I use them in otherwise fresh things like stir frys, etc. Or a meatloaf. I don't normally use jarred sauce, but I keep a jar around for when I want ao really quick meal

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or food "openmindedness") show in your meals at home

For the most part I try to use all fresh foods because I have the time. I am not opposed to using prepackaged foods though (jarred sauce, rice, etc) but it somewhat rare.

I still can't get enough of Kraft mac n cheese.

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or food "openmindedness") show in your meals at home

most of the time I use fresh things- but there are a few pre-packaged things I use:

whole wheat cous cous mixes
organic mac & cheese
sometimes shake & bake for pork chops- even those I like them w/ sauerkraut better- DH is a big baby...
Goya Black Bean Soup- the BEST quick fix meal over brown rice with raw, red onions on top.

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or food "openmindedness") show in your meals at home

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or food "openmindedness") show in your meals at home

I use a mix of prepared and fresh... like the other day i made pork chops, and used fresh thyme and balsalmic to make my own seasoning for it... but as a side we i heated up frozen veggies and rice a roni....
we also use jarred spaghetti sauce sometimes, and the premade packets of taco seasoning, etc...
with both of us working its hard to fine the time to make EVERYTHING from scratch, but we do try to do it as much as possible

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or food "openmindedness") show in your meals at home

I am NOT a good cook. - So, if it's something I know how to do well (ie: Sauce, meatballs, eggplant parm.....) I do it the 'right way' .........
Otherwise, I don't attempt it at all ! I know my limits !!!!
So, I don't think I can be a snob if I'm a bad cook !!

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or food "openmindedness") show in your meals at home

I use many prepared marinades, sauces, rice mixes, shake and bake, etc....both DH and I grew up that way, so we're used to it. Honestly, the last thing I feel like doing after getting home is making things from scratch!

Message edited 3/22/2007 12:58:28 PM.

Re: Spinoff...does your food snobbiness (or food "openmindedness") show in your meals at home

I love cooking, but I never have the time. DH is the dinner-maker in our house and while he'll make a big homemade to-do every once in a while, he usually has some help. Who am I kidding, I'd rather have help, too, a lot of the time. I grew up on jarred sauces and really only learned a few years ago that there were people who didn't! So that's a no-brainer for us. We buy prepackaged veggie burgers and pre-cut fries. Store-made hummus (it's better than anything I've made in my feeble attempts). Last night we made falaffel from a mix. We do make our own salad dressing most of the time.

Honestly, what's most important to me is that our food is healthy and tastes good. We read labels and try to by food that is all natural, no hydrogenated oils, no corn syrup, etc. and to me that's what's most important, not that either of us spent 2 hours preparing the meal. And really, we work hard and would prefer to relax or have fun in our time off. Weekends I'll cook, but during the week, not gonna happen.