Opinion / Letters
Proper dining out in Zimbabwe is a rare monthly treat
14 Feb 2012 at 03:19hrs | Views
Dear Zfn,
RE: Proper dining out in Zimbabwe is a rare monthly treat
"From an economic standpoint, the rising demand for fast foods speaks to a growing eating-out culture which is usually associated with a growing middle class"
On the contrary my observation is that this eating out practice is now symptomatic of our culture of excesses, greed and selfishness (what are the family eating at home), disregard for our health, and failure to save (a dollar a day is enough)….a lunch box from home would cost say $2, consisting of several sandwiches and perhaps a fruit and maputi, with tea at work for mid morning and lunch break, while fast food costs around $3-$5, and more, which consists of fat, additives, flavour enhancers, masking real food flavours, etc….
Closer analysis may show that more men/boys patronise these places, and women/girls will usually have a fast-food meal bought for them. Working women are able to eat modestly and generally live within their means, while men/boys succumb to pressure to assume the trappings of success â€" the fast-food meal being one.
Proper dining out is supposed to be a rare (say monthly with the family) treat, while fast-food which can be an every day thing for some, has become a status symbol, which will ultimately kill us either with clogged arteries or as down-and-out hobos, who did not save when they had the chance.
The true middleclass are quietly eating from their lunch boxes or pooling scare resources for a shared office meal or catching up at seldom-seen coffee shops in the suburbs when they have a spare usd10, while the nouveau-riche queue at fast food outlets in the city centre, for their daily fix, under the illusion that they are well/better off …
What differentiates the middleclass from the nouveau-riche is the value system. Conspicuous consumption is anathema to the former, while it is inherent with the former. The former would rather pick up some fresh rolls, cold meat and salad ingredients for the family to sit around and enjoy at home accompanied by lively discussion, while the latter prefers an impersonal city centre outlet, as a means to impress people they don't even like. It cascades down to dress, language, views, hobbies/pastimes, etc
Did you notice that a rising number of men were eating supermarket meals between 1500 and 1800hrs during the food shortage era, often on the steps of those establishments….they would then pick up a packet of lacto for the family relish - nothing has changed.
FM
RE: Proper dining out in Zimbabwe is a rare monthly treat
"From an economic standpoint, the rising demand for fast foods speaks to a growing eating-out culture which is usually associated with a growing middle class"
On the contrary my observation is that this eating out practice is now symptomatic of our culture of excesses, greed and selfishness (what are the family eating at home), disregard for our health, and failure to save (a dollar a day is enough)….a lunch box from home would cost say $2, consisting of several sandwiches and perhaps a fruit and maputi, with tea at work for mid morning and lunch break, while fast food costs around $3-$5, and more, which consists of fat, additives, flavour enhancers, masking real food flavours, etc….
Closer analysis may show that more men/boys patronise these places, and women/girls will usually have a fast-food meal bought for them. Working women are able to eat modestly and generally live within their means, while men/boys succumb to pressure to assume the trappings of success â€" the fast-food meal being one.
The true middleclass are quietly eating from their lunch boxes or pooling scare resources for a shared office meal or catching up at seldom-seen coffee shops in the suburbs when they have a spare usd10, while the nouveau-riche queue at fast food outlets in the city centre, for their daily fix, under the illusion that they are well/better off …
What differentiates the middleclass from the nouveau-riche is the value system. Conspicuous consumption is anathema to the former, while it is inherent with the former. The former would rather pick up some fresh rolls, cold meat and salad ingredients for the family to sit around and enjoy at home accompanied by lively discussion, while the latter prefers an impersonal city centre outlet, as a means to impress people they don't even like. It cascades down to dress, language, views, hobbies/pastimes, etc
Did you notice that a rising number of men were eating supermarket meals between 1500 and 1800hrs during the food shortage era, often on the steps of those establishments….they would then pick up a packet of lacto for the family relish - nothing has changed.
FM
Source - zfn
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