Because I went on a journey to find a life somewhere else, I saved money by staying in longer term hotels–and some short-term rentals–so that I could cook instead of eating out all the time. In Europe, the food was rather expensive, and I began to understand why more people are having health problems and feeling alienated by the National Health Service. However, when I came back west, the biggest problem I discovered was that “kitchen” could mean anything from a barely functioning electric stove to nothing but a microwave. When given nothing but a microwave, I discovered that there was a distinct difference in the level of health that I could achieve without having a stove, even with time.
In countries where people actually cook, it is very difficult to find prepped food other than simply going out to dinner. There is no market for prepped food in the lands of those who serve behind the scenes in the United States. Most of the available food from the grocery stores is imported, and costs for the importation. Between paying for processed food and fresh food, I spent twice as much for unhealthy food with United States standards. With a small induction stove and a pot, I could at least make healthy food from scratch, strategizing the best I could with available materials. Microwaves mean paper and dishes, with very little else.
Moreover, processed food is much less healthy, and when forced to use it, I had to use a number of different methods to thin out the salt and the sugar. Cereals that I had enjoyed in the past became almost disgusting based on how impossible it was to thin out sugar. With salt, usually I was able to include frozen vegetables and rice, meaning that canned meat was actually edible. After a week of this experience, I would never recommend a kitchen without a microwave for anything but heating up leftovers after eating at restaurants. I wonder if the privileged understand why it is so difficult to maintain health without the opportunity or equipment.
Chasing A Dying Empire 