The Foreign Service Journal, March 2019

32 MARCH 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Invest in the Right Equipment Paying more for cast-iron pots, skillets and Dutch ovens will be worth it in the long run. You will have fewer plastics and chemicals, more consistent cooking, and more fun cooking with beautiful cookware that will last more than one generation. (If only I could convince the general services officer to include cast- iron pots in our welcome kit.) If you miss your nonstick pans, simply add more butter before you fry up your eggs. (Tip: Allow the pan and butter to get hot before adding the eggs.) This goes for sautéing vegetables, as well. Plan Ahead Prepare a stew or chili on a Sunday that can be a meal for sev- eral days. Bring your lunch to work to ensure you eat quality food and don’t waste time and money foraging. (Those D.C. food trucks can be tempting, but many use poor quality vegetable cooking oils, and they tend to cost more than a home-cooked lunch.) Pack warm lunches for your children by investing in thermos containers and a reusable lunch box. This takes extra effort and planning, but a warm, home-cooked lunch helps kids concentrate at school and absorb the nutrients their growing bodies need. The French still practice this with posi- tive results. Explore Culinary Traditions at Post Learn about local culture, traditions and dishes that have been passed down through generations at your post. I learned from the French culinary tradition to eat diversely and freshly, but also to share food in the company of family and friends. This slows us down, reduces our stress load and gives us memories to cherish. Start Small My approach to food and nutrition works well for my family. But everyone has to find what works for them. What’s important is that you are deliberate in your food choices and preparation, and do not simply let them be dictated by prior habits or what’s currently on the store shelf. Allow yourself to enjoy the process of discovering what works for you, without preconceived notions or guilt. Try a small shift in habit and observe the results. If a less sugary breakfast seems to elicit better behavior from your child, well, there is an exciting new discovery! If taking a walk during the day helps you feel more productive, then take the time to do it. If bacon at breakfast allows you to get to lunch without snack- ing or becoming “hangry,” you and your colleagues will all be happier. As a community, we can benefit from each other’s commit- ment to health and nutrition. Rather than pushing ourselves on too little sleep and too much junk food, we can encourage each other to get the rest and nourishment we all need, but rarely allow ourselves. Even small shifts in thinking and behavior among members of our communities at home and at post can make for a healthier and happier Foreign Service. Taking small steps and leading by example might even get your child to eat her liver. I should have asked the French grand- mothers for tips on that one! n I learned from the French culinary tradition to eat diversely and freshly, but also to share food in the company of family and friends. Anchovies at an outdoor market in Aix-en-Provence. TANIATESCHKE