Some prefer the human proximity in restaurants..

they are lonely or seek to get out of the house.

Others travel lightly and so eat in restaurants.

Still others hate to cook, to wash dishes, to spend

time in harshly lighted grocery stores with their

commercial vibrations.

Another group cannot afford the many

costs of eating out:

1 the calories, 2 the price, 3 the tips, 4 the time 5 the reheated food 6 the transportation costs of coming and going 7 unclean ecoli (colon bacteria) hands, 8 the greater chance of food poisoning, 9 the less pure water 10 the grills and pans on and which flesh has been cooked, 11 the old oil, 12 the salad bars sprayed with toxic sulfite preservatives correlated to diarrhea and other side effects, 13 the nonorganic food,

14 the state taxes taken for hunter dominated wildlife agencies, execution (in 9 states), forest killing highways 15. the lack of vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and uncooked options. They decide to

have potlucks for their friends at home.

Footnote:

Vegetarians, vegans and fruitarians don't like to give money to institutions involved in the killing of animals. Vegetarian vegan restaurant guides

http://www.happycow.net

http://www.vegdining.com/Home.cfm

http://ivu.org/recipes

http://www.vrg.org/recipes/

http://www.peta.org/recipes/

Sathya Sai Baba: "Avoid restaurants where meat is served." (Among many other reasons

such as nonviolence, health, environmental action are that )"Vibrations of the cook

enter the food."

The National Restaurant Association which is in league with the meat, fish and dairy industries has for many decades

suppressed vegan and vegetarian eating promotion.

I like the Vietnamese place on Garvey and Rosemead over in El Monte or Rosemead. Somewhere in there.

There's also the legendary Happy Family up on Atlantic.

There's Paru's over in Hollywood.

One World in West Covina.

Does anyone know of any places in East LA?

Funny article and critical thinking is always good, even if food doesnt taste the same at home or when covered with others' sauces.

The intent to discourage 'eating out at restaurants' and trucks can be more unsanitary regardless of regulations intending to keep them equal to bldg food cookeries...is accepted. A suggestion. A hint. A 'doesnt it make you sick yet ? ' approach. Ok.

and the rebellious reply to listing favorite restaurants makes both writings humorous in combination.

The cost factor being a primary one for so many people is mentioned but the PC general taking-for-granted that 'anyone of course can afford to eat out of home "...is untrue.

The cost of buying 1 pkg of meat, vegetables, fruit, dairy, whatever covers 4 - 5 servings of same size that comes already cooked by a stranger. The drive time and transport expense may be the same. The utilities cost and time it takes to cook food is not easily calculated fairly.

But to purchase, then clean, prepare, cook.... then clean and of course.....then to EAT ....cannot be easily compared to what is made-with-care and knowing-what-goes-into-food and what is served elsewhere.

The shopping can be a pleasure in itself, the buying and selecting what is wanted, and enjoying the freedom to choose and buy one's own preferences can be appreciated.

The labeling of foods can be inspected and one can be educated as to what is going to enter this beloved body, before swallowing. That may be considered a necessary act before consuming any food, if at all possible.

The preparing of food can be a skill and experiment or experience of being aware of food and what it is ...not just eaten or digested, but what it actually IS before changing forms by chopping, heating, etc.

The cooking, aha...the trickiest part, because food can be made with caring and attention or ignored, burnt or boiled away. No recipes need be followed or strictly adhered to, except for special results, cakes, fancy deserts, delicately cooked dishes. Otherwise, practice and experiment can be an adventure, an art, a curiosity followed by intuition.

And then the food is cooked, hopefully well, or eaten anyhow and a lesson learned. A sharing of how-to-cook is women's specialty in conversations and ways to share admiration and teachings too.

The serving, even for 1 person, oneself, or others can be a gift, a service, a giving that is not 'expensive' nor to be taken for granted or expected. The presentation can be creative or elegant or simple but thoughtful in any ways it is done.

The eating...the desired final stage is often less appreciated, even if all the work, time, and cost has led to that feasting. Many will watch TV, read, talk a lot or use any diversion and then wonder 'where did that go ?" looking at empty plates.

clean up of cooking and dishes is often the least desired task and called a 'chore' or passed on to the least powerful person around often. But it can be a cleansing of more than the pots and glasses and plates, because to notice how stuff can become shiny and clean from their prior greasy, sticky, messy state is another pleasure, seldom found easily.

Handwashing is preferable, Dishwashers are water-wasters and another duty given to robots, machines and provide no pleasure of DOING IT MYSELF !

The eating at a restaurant, truck, stand is easy and costly.

Maybe even tastier and necessary when really rushed or tired. But for everyday eating and most meals, the loss is not just in the pocketbook but in the living life to it's fullest and finding pleasure in all the small details that make up survival.

of course, most people dont seem to care about making themselves feel full or happy but are wanting to BUY anything all the time instead, that will Make Them whatever, so the person is a passive recipient, spectator, receiver and not an Active-Doer. And they do not have any accomplishment, only a full feeling in the gut, stomach, down there, with gas adding to the over-eating done when plateloads are served and easily consumed thoughtlessly.

So, when in a hurry, or too exhausted from overwork or being unable to carry groceries inside to a living space, then eating elsewhere may be the preferred way.

But for many WHO ARE ADVERTISED into believing that spending hard-earned money on anything makes them Richer or elevates their status higher, they are mistaken.

the status assumed from being able to pay the restaurant, truck food bill is small compared to all that comes-with the actual whole food story described above. The paying the restaurant regularly - frequently - often - needs to be reconsidered. To realize how much promotion, PR, push there is to "go out and buy it ready-made" has created worlds in which the human touch has evaporated and all that is left is a

need to go to the toilet.

a diatribe or long story saying, let's all more often want to live our lives, not just go-out-and-buy it. Food with all it takes to make it edible and delicious too is our opportunity to have a good healthy and sanitary living experience.

By the way, many who have seen the 'insides' of back of restaurant scenes have scared those who are not allowed to view those areas and how food is disregarded and discarded also. oh well....

welcome to big urban fast food living or even fancy expensive restaurant & tipping bills that eat up our income and savings.