Center of Gravity

First and foremost I am a creature of habit. I thrive when I build a schedule that optimizes every aspect of my life. That said, life sometimes (frequently) throws enough at me that I need to reassess resources and make sacrifices to make ends meet. Food is one such resource that, for all intents and purposes, is nonnegotiable. The real question is how willing I am to flex what I consider to be an acceptable meal.

Last weekend was totally packed, and on top of that, I was up to my neck in homework and assignments. There was no world where I did a full meal plan and grocery shopping. Enter the survival meal.

First: a premade grocery store salad. These are the platonic ideal base for a survival meal. They’ve got a reasonable variety of flora, they have multiple flavors, and they’re ready out of the bag. Yes, they’re awful for the environment. Yes, they’re usually far from fresh by the time they’re in my bowl. Do I care? If I’m eating a grocery store salad, I can’t afford to.

Next: Thinly sliced chicken breast. The cut is important, if it’s not thinly sliced I’m not using it. Pan seared, it only takes about 5 minutes per cut. The ratio of protein to effort/cost is unbeatable. I’ve been cooking since the 8th grade and it took me until like last year to really come around on chicken breast. Turns out the trick was even heating and, more importantly, the dogged persistence that comes with stress, necessity, and age. Preparation is simple, of course: a quick marinade in oil, salt, pepper, and maybe garlic powder. I slice it up hot and plate it atop the salad.

Finally: Whatever else I feel like. Chips and guacamole. Cut fruit. Sourdough with butter. I’ve found that just protein + vegetable doesn’t quite cut it, that a third element is needed to close the circuit.

Thirty minutes later, I’ve had a delicious meal and I’m ready to move on to whatever’s next.

I understand there are easier ways to do this. Life would be simpler if I ate takeout, frozen food, or greek yogurt every time things got tough. Hell, if macros were my only goal? I’d just bulk buy soylent and call it a day. For me, though, those are all missing the most vital ingredient: dignity. I’m not here to judge whatever works for you, but in order to meet my own needs, a survival meal must be actively engaging for it to be truly nourishing. I need to turn on a stove, I need to use a knife.

As a creature of habit, one thing I’ve learned is how important it is to make a habit of taking care of myself. I’ve also learned that real self-care doesn’t usually follow the path of least resistance. What really feeds my soul is that daily block where it’s just me, a hot pan, and simple ingredients. For me, survival isn’t just about slipping through the cracks – it’s about reminding myself every day that I can make it through on my own steam.

And besides, no matter how exhausted I am, no matter how much I come to hate the process, it somehow always comes together: a steaming hot plate of protein and greens, simple yet greater than the sum of its parts. Needed to survive, and worth surviving for.