What's for Dinner?

Ahhh.... that's the age old question. As a busy mom, I hear that question every afternoon-- at least once--but usually more like 10-15 times. My kids ask me what's for dinner in the car on the way home from school, again when we arrive at the house, and then every 5-10 minutes while I am actively cooking the aforementioned meal, regardless of the fact that they can see with their own two eyes what I have right there in front of me on the cutting board. Boy, are they persistent... or bad listeners... or creatures of habit... or all of the above.

But I can't really blame them for being so eager, because we all look forward to a delicious and hearty meal at the end of a long day.

So, I was driving home just the other day (to the rhythmic back-seat chant of "What's for dinner? What's for dinner?") when I realized how profoundly gardening has changed the way I think about food and plan my family's meals. Whereas I used to ask myself, "What's for dinner," I now begin that thought process with a different inquiry altogether:

"What's in the garden?" I ask myself as I head home. Meal planning is no longer about what I feel like. It's about what I have on hand, ready to go, in my own front yard.

Eating seasonally and locally is at once both wonderful and wonderfully challenging. When I say challenging, I don't mean in the sense of taking extra time or costing extra money. Case(s) in point:

People ask me all the time how I make time for my garden, and the truth of the matter is--yes, there is some upfront expense and effort required, especially twice a year at fall and spring planting times, but the minutes and hours returned to me at the other end of the growing season are completely worth it. That's when, instead of driving to the market to pick up some last minute items for dinner, I just take a few steps outside to the garden. And, since my raised beds are directly next to my driveway and outside the front door, I can even grab a weighty zucchini or ripe tomato as I park the car and head inside. Now that's fast food.

Financially, the expense of building the "farm" initially was somewhat daunting, but since then we've paid very little in terms of soil management (we crank out a lot of homemade compost now) and plants (seeds are cheap compared to the prices of store-bought produce). I can't even really say that our water bill has gone up, since the drip system that waters our garden already existed in the form of standard sprinkler heads watering an ugly and useless patch of greedy lawn. In fact, in the height of the summer months I can get our family of four fed (pretty darn well) on just our Pocket Square Farm produce and as little as $25 in groceries from Trader Joe's. Really. I have receipts to prove it!

What's so challenging about farm to fork eating, then? For me, I think the struggle is in separating oneself and one's family away from modern-day convenience food. Fast food has become completely entrenched as part of our daily lives... and why wouldn't it be when we're all so exhausted and crazed just trying to keep up with work, school, family, soccer schedules, swim lessons, homework, housework, etc. As I drive by In-n-Out Burger my car almost subconsciously swerves toward the drive-through's gravitational pull. I mean really... I could get In... and Out... and have my family fed for less than $20... and not have to do any dishes afterward? I am salivating as I type at the mere thought.

But, alas, I grip the wheel with all my might, pull my drooling tongue back into my mouth, and steer the car away from the temptation! Because this, I know, is waiting for me at home:

PSF Meals are Planned Around What's Ripe in the Garden

The kids and I hop out of the car, drop our bags in the entry, and head out to the garden to pick what's ripe and needs to be eaten. Even in the earliest days of summer, when my raised beds are really just beginning to crank out the veggies, we can still find enough to fill out a meal... every single day.

I realize when your kids ask you what's for dinner that "zucchini, green and gold bush beans, and strawberries" might not be the most obvious answer. In fact, those three foods, in and of themselves, are kind of a random modge-podge. But, most nights, we just go with what we have on hand. I saute the veggies in a little olive oil, steam some rice or warm a nice loaf of crusty bread, and slice the berries to serve on the side.

Start to finish (and I mean picking, washing, chopping, and cooking), this super sustainable meal is ready in 20 minutes flat.

Grilled or Sauteed Veggies are the Foundation of Family Dinners

Now, don't get me wrong. I do love a double double with grilled onions. I mean really... who doesn't? But next time your family asks "What's for dinner," I urge you NOT to think, "What do I want to eat?" but rather, "What's locally and seasonally available right now?" Then you'll realize that "What's for dinner?" is a different question altogether.

The answer may not be In-n-Out, but [cue jingle] that's what good ea-ting is... all about!