Takeout Should Be A Guilt-Free Option Anti-Home Cooking It’s Too Time-Consuming For Today’s Lifestyles

“Lasagna from Costco?”

My husband’s face falls into disapproval. Lasagna is our traditional Christmas Eve meal, and usually my sister cooks several batches. But this year, the lasagna comes from the store. For good reason.

My sister works full time and has five children, four of them still at home, two of them teenagers. Her nickname is “The Rock” because she is steady and unshakable. But this year, The Rock crumbled a little on tradition. Congratulations to her and others who did the same.

It is easy for male editorial writers to go on and on in poetic fashion about the virtues of home cooking during the holidays. Ah, the aromas. Ah, the tradition. Ah, the memories. Bite into a piece of fudge - the fudge recipe passed down for generations - and reconnect with family long gone. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s all wonderful.

But let’s face reality: The men usually aren’t cooking those turkeys or baking those cookies or staying up until 2 in the morning layering the lasagna. It’s the women.

And we’re busier than ever.

How busy? A survey by the Families and Work Institute showed that 55 percent of women are in the work force today and earn at least half the income in their families. The survey also revealed that most working women still do the traditional non-paid work at home, such as child care, housecleaning and cooking. When the women were asked whether they’d rather have more time or more money, almost half chose more time.

Women are looking for timesavers. And if this means sacrificing traditional holiday cooking, so be it.

The holidays should be about gathering with family and friends. And if you are exhausted from cooking, how much can you enjoy the people you love?

The solution to this takeout vs. home-cooking debate lies in having guilt-free options. Too stressed-out to cook a traditional Christmas meal? Then order pizza.

Another option: Encourage the men in the family to help with the cooking. Many do already. My husband will prepare a ham to go along with that store-bought lasagna. Your husband wants to barbecue steaks? Great. Then order some takeout beans, coleslaw and potato salad to go along with them.

And don’t forget to hold the guilt.

, DataTimes MEMO: For opposing view, see headline: Home cooking helps build family ties

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