Artificial Intelligence and Eating Real Food!

I find that many people are getting bogged down by artificial intelligence. I see countless AI-generated reviews flooding the internet, and while I’m not knocking it- AI is a fantastic tool- it’s just that: a tool to streamline work.

But too often, I read something and think, Wow, this has no soul. It’s full of words but feels repetitive, then redundant. And then I ask myself, What is the purpose of this article? Why am I reading this?

What is the author- and I use that term loosely- trying to convey? More often than not, the answer seems to be: Write as many words as possible, grab attention, and flood a blog with ads. I see this a lot on LinkedIn, less so on Facebook, where you’re connected with friends. Twitter is different; you’re mostly engaging with strangers. But LinkedIn? It’s where people try to impress colleagues, potential employers, or investors.

Many users rely on AI to craft their posts, updates, and articles in an effort to sound clever. And I’m not saying I haven’t experimented with it myself- I have. But I’ve never found anything good enough to use as my own.

We all want to stay relevant, both online and in real life. Relevance is key, especially professionally. But when I read a lot of AI-generated LinkedIn content, it starts to feel formulaic. Everyone is using the same buzzwords, the same phrasing- chasing engagement rather than meaning. I won’t go into detail now, but if you spend enough time on LinkedIn, you’ll recognize the clichés designed purely to grab attention.

Lately, I’ve been creating a lot of content, and I use LinkedIn as a tool. I also use Microsoft Word. I use Google. But I’m not asking them to do the work for me- I use them to help me complete the work.

There’s nothing more gratifying than looking at something and thinking, I wrote that. I came up with that idea, that expression. That’s the difference. AI-generated content may be good, but it’s rarely something I’d be proud to call my own.

I’ve seen this pattern across various creative fields- people taking shortcuts. I also notice it in AI-generated imagery. There’s always something off: a missing finger, an extra toe, a third eye, or an unnatural hairline. And foodie pictures?

They often look hyper-realistically perfect to the point where I think, Something’s wrong here. Life isn’t hyper-realistic perfection.

Eating Inspiration for Lazy Cooks

I often find myself looking at AI-generated images and thinking, Oh yes, that’s an artificially generated picture of a slice of cake. And while it might look flawless, I believe it’s the imperfections and challenges we face in life that make the sweet moments even sweeter.

When I say that I hope you’ve worked hard and worked well, I genuinely mean it. There’s something deeply gratifying about having a sense of pride and accomplishment.

On a related note, a friend recently asked me how I always seem to eat so well. How do you find the time? they wondered. And honestly, that’s the key—making the time. Taking the time to prepare something from scratch, to cook something worthwhile, delicious, and nutritious.

I was trying to find the right words—nutritious, delicious, and… what else? Getting lost live on the radio! But yes, healthy, nutritious, and delicious—that’s the goal.

That said, the definition of “eating well” varies from person to person. Some believe it means eating a lot, while others think it means eating nutritiously. To me, it’s a balance of both. But more than that, it’s about enjoying the process—from preparing the meal to savoring each bite.

We often joke that cooking takes 30 minutes, but the meal is gone in five. And really, that shouldn’t be a joke. Cooking should be an experience, not just a means to an end. I’ve met plenty of lazy cooks who throw everything into a pot, let it sit, and call it a meal. But I prefer to layer flavors—to sweat out aromatics, toast my spices, caramelize my meat, and build depth in my dishes.

Take bolognese, for example. A good one needs time and patience. And trust me, I’ve made enough to know that without a bottle of red wine—one for the pot and maybe one for myself—it just doesn’t taste the same!

Speaking of ingredients, I was talking about margarine the other day. I just don’t get it. It never melts. You put it in a pan, and it just sits there, stubbornly refusing to budge. Meanwhile, the stove is burning at a temperature that could rival the fires of hell, and still—nothing. And taste-wise? No contest. I need butter.

Of course, even I take shortcuts sometimes. My latest breakfast obsession? Roast potatoes. I love hash browns, but they’re too much of a mess to deal with. Instead, I’ve found a simple trick: At the start of the week, I steam, microwave, or boil a few potatoes and pop them in the fridge. Then, when I want a quick breakfast, I crisp them up in the air fryer or pan-fry them for a bit of crunch and texture.

A little effort in advance makes all the difference. And honestly, that applies to life just as much as it does to cooking.

I also get lazy sometimes. I’m like everybody else. It’s one thing to talk a good game; it’s another to actually play one. Sometimes, I just don’t have the time. I’m too hungry, actually. And I don’t have the effort or the energy- which shows how lazy I can be- even to heat up some oil and add a tablespoon of butter to the pan when frying eggs or crisping up potato wedges. And yes, they are wedges, and you can taste the difference. I ask myself, why not just melt some butter over them? Because everything is better with butter. But no, you have to cook things properly.

When it comes to mindful eating and eating well, I was joking with a friend. Sometimes, I’m in such a rush that I eat over the kitchen sink, straight from a takeaway container- just inhaling food because I’m starving. But now, I’ve realized that even though it takes a little more effort, it’s so much nicer to sit down at the table, even if you’re eating alone. People tell me, “Oh, my husband was away,” or “My wife was out, so I just had a TV dinner.”

Honestly, with all the repeats on TV, I couldn’t be tempted. Sitting at the dining table with a knife and fork, chopsticks, or even your hands (if it’s finger food) makes a difference. Looking at your food, savoring it, and truly enjoying the moment- rather than just shoveling it down- is the key.

I also need at least one vegetable or a salad on my plate (excluding potatoes). Meat, potatoes, and a vegetable- it’s about balance. And having that mix of colors, flavors, and textures makes the meal more satisfying. Even a simple salad deserves a good dressing. And let’s not forget sauces! I love sauces. They can transform a meal from purely functional- eating just to eat- into something more sensory, more indulgent, something you actually enjoy.

And it’s not about extravagance. It’s about indulging in the moment. Even something as simple as a boerewors roll can be elevated. Some people just fry the sausage, throw it in a roll, and call it a day. Not me. I air-fry my boerewors, then use the residual fat (because fat is flavor) to brush onto the rolls before crisping them up. The same goes for burgers- slice the roll, toast it in that leftover fat, and suddenly, a mundane meal becomes something exceptional.

That, to me, is the essence of eating well- investing time in quality ingredients, in preparation, and in actually sitting down to enjoy the food. Nothing is sadder than eating in front of the TV. And don’t get me started on eating off your lap- especially at someone else’s house! There’s always food stains on the couch, the carpet, the cushions. You could practically index their past meals based on the stains.

Eating in the bedroom? Even worse. Nothing is more off-putting than walking into a bedroom that smells like pickles and cheese- or peanut butter.

The same philosophy applies to coffee. My morning coffee is instant. I’ve never had the patience for filtered coffee, and although I own one of those fancy espresso machines, I never use it. The coffee beans just sit there until they go stale or, worse, moldy. So, I stick with my strong cup of instant coffee. But even with that, I make it an experience- I sit on the patio, watch the garden, maybe even catch the sunrise.

Everything can be an experience if you let it. Life is short. We need to make the most of every moment- including the ones spent eating and drinking.