I Don’t Cook Like I Used To

Miss Ruby was standing in Kroger looking into the meat case when she finally said it out loud.

“I don’t feel like cooking.”

A lady standing beside her laughed.

“I know that’s right.”

Miss Ruby laughed too, but she meant it.

There was a time when she could walk into Kroger with a grocery list long enough to fill both sides of the paper. Greens, onions, flour, cornmeal, chicken, potatoes—and don’t forget something for dessert.

She’d get home, put on her house shoes, and spend half the afternoon in the kitchen.

But today?

Miss Ruby wanted something good.

She just didn’t want to work that hard for it.

She pushed her cart a little farther and started noticing things she usually walked right past.

Meals that were already prepared.

Vegetables that only needed heating.

Chicken and other options that were seasoned and ready to cook.

Things she could take home, put in the oven or microwave, add a vegetable or salad to, and call dinner.

“Well, now…”

Miss Ruby picked up one of the packages and read the label.

Then she picked up another.

Her cellphone rang.

It was Ethel.

“Where are you?”

“Kroger.”

“What you cooking?”

“Nothing if I can help it.”

Ethel started laughing.

“Ruby, you know you still have to eat.”

“I know that. That’s why I’m in here looking at all this food somebody else already did half the work on.”

“Now you’re learning!”

Miss Ruby rolled her eyes even though Ethel couldn’t see her.

But Ethel had a point.

Miss Ruby chose something simple for dinner, grabbed some vegetables and headed toward the checkout.

When she got home, dinner didn’t take an hour.

There wasn’t a sink full of pots and pans.

And she didn’t end up eating cookies and crackers just because she didn’t feel like cooking.

A little while later, Miss Ruby was sitting at her kitchen table with a hot meal in front of her.

She took a bite.

Then another.

“Well, this isn't bad at all.”

She called Ethel.

“Girl, I cooked.”

“I thought you weren’t cooking.”

“I changed my mind. But I didn't cook-cook.”

Ethel knew exactly what she meant.

Miss Ruby looked down at her plate and smiled.

Maybe every meal didn’t have to be made the way she made it at 35.

Maybe taking a shortcut wasn’t being lazy.

Maybe picking up something ready to cook—or even ready to heat—was simply another way of taking care of herself.

And the next time she went to Kroger?

Miss Ruby already knew there were a few aisles she planned to look at a little differently.

From Miss Ruby’s Table

You don’t have to cook like you used to in order to enjoy a good meal today.

The next time you’re at Kroger, take a look around. You may find a Ready to Cook or Ready to Heat option that makes dinner a little easier.

Add a vegetable, salad, fruit, or another favorite side and make it your own.

Because Miss Ruby has decided one thing:

There is no prize for making dinner harder than it has to be.

Pull Up a Chair

What about you?

What is one meal you still love to cook from scratch—and what is one thing you’re perfectly happy letting Kroger prepare for you?