Living TheReview Wednesday, May 30,1990 — A14 The times, they’re a-changin’, aren’t they? Until 1960 or thereabouts, changes that affected us as indi- viduals came along slowly. There was time to think about the change, to decide, if it were to have a direct impact on us, how we would handle it. We could just accept it, modify the change — or our lives — to suit ourselves, or perhaps reject it altogether. It was a bit like a new flavor or food that you take a small spoon- ful of just to taste, roll it around on your tongue. If you like it, you swallow and reach for another spoonful. Perhaps it needs a bit more salt, or perhaps you spit it out and yell, “Ugh! no thanks.” In the Age of Information in which we now live, change — indeed changes would be a more appropriate word — are tossed at us from all sides and at a speed which often makes them difficult if not impossible to comprehend or assimilate; Food is not immune from these lightning changes. Each week as we visit the supermarket, we are confronted with new items, new products, new versions of old products. The television, the print media, and supermarket flyers all coax us to buy this and that’ they even pay us small sums by way of coupons to try “new” or “impro- ved” grocery store items. Our food bills do not get any lower, do they? For the past several years, I have noticed a trend which is now a full-blown fact of life in larger cities and is more and more in evidence in Greater Victoria. Today it isn’t necessary to go home after work and start cooking supper. You can stop in at a gourmet deli and pick up ready- cooked food from hors d’oeuvres, soup, salad through to main dish and dessert and even specially blended coffee. ‘While their chief speciality was packaged frozen chicken, beef and fish stock, they also sold hof and frozen soups, chowders, sfews and a wide variety of sauces. There was a lineup to ge served!’ Perhaps it was the Spinning Jenny that started it all. With the ~ advent of ready-made clothes in the 19th century, perhaps it was inevitable that ready-made food would follow eventually. On the CBC radio programme The Food Show, broadcast a few weeks ago, Bruce Steele men- tioned that, according to the Cana- dian Restaurant and Food Services Association, approximately 36 cents of every dollar Canadians spend on food, is spent on food eaten outside the home Put another way, this might indi- cated that about one-third of our meals are eaten in restaurants. Given that for you and me, that Statistic doesn’t fit — it probably follows that other Canadians are eating more than one-third of their meals at restaurants. There are several gourmet pantry shops in Victoria at which you can phone ahead and order cooked food for a dinner party. The quality is excellent, the menu surprising varied and, while expensive, the price is not exces- Sive, considering the time and effort you save in not having to shop for ingredients or not having to cook the food yourself. These shops are thriving, at least the good ones are. On a recent trip to the mainland, a Sunday morning prow! around Granville Island tumed up a stall called The Stock Pot. While their chief speciality was packaged fro- zen chicken, beef and fish stock, they also sold hot and frozen soups, chowders, stews and a wide variety of sauces. There was a lineup to get served! Another change in foodstyles is the call to return to simpler foods with no or fewer additives. People are reading labels to determine the nutritive values of foods, Super- markets are offering guided tours led by nutritionists to show people how to make wise choices. The dairy section affords an array of 1 per cent, 2 per cent, skim, homogenized, half-and-half, light cream, heavy cream milk, goat milk and cheese with similar graded fat content. A simple weekly shopping trip turns into a 45-minute decision-making exer- cise! NICHOLAS W. LOTT TIMOTHY FE LOTT D. MAYLAND MCKIMM 9830 FOURTH ST. SIDNEY, B.C. 656-3961 McKIMM & LOTT BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS & NOTARIES GEORGE E McKIMM - COUNSEL Personal Injury / Real Estate Criminal Law / Wills & Estates Family Law / Commercial & Co. Law Municipal Law FIRST 1/2 HOUR CONSULTATION FREE GANGES CENTRE BLDG. CHRISTOPHER S. LOTT R.G, WITT LAPPER GRANT S. WARRINGTON GANGES, B.C. 537-9951 For years, my shopping list var- ied little. Upon reflection, it changed when the children in their younger years began urging me to buy products they had seen adver- tised on the television. I started to experiment with new brands of detergent, different types of tea, imported cheeses, exotic fruits, out-of-season vegetables, foods with names that were new to me — bulgur, arugula, oat bran! Other changes in our eating habits have quietly crept upon us — we are more careful about our cholesterol intake, our consump- tion of dietary fibre, of saturated fats. We eat more fresh fruit and fresh local vegetables. We ask for Salad dressing on the side when we dine out. We drink wine sprit- zers instead of a glass of wine. We request whole wheat bread for our sandwiches. Granted, my observations are somewhat generalized and this is often a dangerous thing to do! They are not meant to be judgmen- tal in any way. Because people may be spending less time slaving over a hot stove does not mean we care any less about our loved ones. Rather, new food lifestyles may give uS more time to spend with them. Given the importance of the family getting together, however, the dining table still seems to be a place of paramount importance for this. But whether the dining table is at home, in a restaurant or outside on the deck or at a park picnic table doesn’t matter. Whether the food was cooked at home or purchased ready-cooked isn’t important either. Whatever the trends or changes that happen, using meals and even snack times for family or friend- ship occasions will continue to be Opportunities to enhance and cement relationships. And, in the end, this is what really counts, isn’t it? This is my last food column for The Review. Six months ago I took over as editor for Visitor Publications and have become very involved with three monthly magazines. But I cannot end without thanking you for the many warm expressions of inter- est which you have given, the editor and staff at The Review for their help and patience. It’s been fun! AS Sh June 30, 1990. PENINSULA SOCCER Early registration will be held at [IROQUOIS CLUBHOUSE Sat. and Sun., June 9 & 10 between 11:00am & 4:00pm. Players new to the Peninsula Soccer Association as well as returning players are urged to register early and save $10.00. Fees are: 5 & 6 Yrs. $25.00 7-17 Yrs. $55.00 Ages 7-17 will be $45.00 if registrations are received before Players who did not play with the Peninsula Association last year must bring 2 photocopies of their Birth Certificates. Inquiries may be directed to: ; PENINSULA SOCCER ASSOCIATION P.O.BOX 2582 SIDNEY B.C. V8L 4C1 or THE REGISTRAR AT 656-0099 | =| A TIME OF CRISIS Ganada at this time is in a crisis situation. Most Canadians are concerned, wonder just how it will end. The situation is no doubt critical. Our. economy, our monetary stability are at stake. Also rumours of the shaky pen- sion funds, create concern for the aged, those depending on | pensions. Indeed these are anx- ious times. If we are observant and aware of the world govern- ments we cannot help but see a world wide problem. We are right to query the outcome. The only real stable solution lies in the Creator's hand. The Bible has never supported’ a human solution. An ancient Babylonian King concluded (Daniel 4:32) “That the Most high ruleth in the kingdoms of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will” If we go on reading there is a very good lesson for us (verse 34) “I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation” In verse 37 we read “| Nebuchadneezar praise and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth and his ways judgement; and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” It would seem then that what the King of Babylon con- cluded, the whole world must at some time accept. Then and only then can we hope for stabil- ity. The change is bound to come with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is presented to us in Daniel 12:1 as the “GREAT PRINCE,” and in Da- niel 2.44, he, Jesus, is the stone that crushes the world king- doms, and stands forever. Bible readers are praying every day for his return. THE BIBLE IS THE BOOK FOR TODAY. If you are inter- ested in a Bible reading pro- gram, phone 655-1061. FOR NOW ...... “Let Charity Continue ...” © at your Peninsula Bingo -SIDNE FREE PARKING PARK NORTH OF JAMES WHITE RD DRIVE THE “BIG ONES” —¢ DAYS A WEEK Y DROP-IN BINGO FREE PARKING UGMICAMHIUUES 9842 3Rd SIDNEY, B.C. (NO TICKETS) a BINGO!! 9842 3RD [i