--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People cooked with a certain integrity…" description: "\"People cooked with a certain integrity before fast food, 50 or 60 years ago. When the cheap food arrived, and we didn't have the education and deep cul..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/alice-waters-3447_certain_people-cooked-with-a-certain-integrity-b_3146638.png" --- # People cooked with a certain integrity before fast food… ![“People cooked with a certain integrity before fast food, 50 or 60 years ago. When the cheap food arrived, and we didn't have the education and deep cultural roots to hold on, we got swept away by fast, cheap and easy.” quote by Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/alice-waters-3447_certain_people-cooked-with-a-certain-integrity-b_3146638.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/alice-waters-3447_certain_people-cooked-with-a-certain-integrity-b_3146638.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/alice-waters-3447_certain_people-cooked-with-a-certain-integrity-b_3146638.png) > “People cooked with a certain integrity before fast food, 50 or 60 years ago. When the cheap food arrived, and we didn't have the education and deep cultural roots to hold on, we got swept away by fast, cheap and easy.” [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Traditional cooking valued skill and honesty, but fast food’s convenience eroded those standards. **In simple terms:** Fast food replaced careful cooking with cheap speed. Key Takeaway Preserve cooking skills and cultural food knowledge. Themes food culture industrialization tradition convenience heritage Mood nostalgic concerned Type reflective advocacy When to use this quote - home cooking - restaurant training - food education - policy advocacy Key Concepts culinary integrity social change consumer behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can we make quality cooking affordable? - What policies support local food traditions? A Different Perspective Fast food also offers affordability and accessibility for low‑income communities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Cheap food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheap-food/) [Cooked Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooked-certain-5630616/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Fast food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fast-food/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Food 50](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food-50-5630615/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Cooked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-cooked-3704857/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Swept away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swept-away/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [“It was milk that had sickened her. Animal milk! These people cooked many things with animal milk!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-e-butler/it-was-milk-that-had-sickened-her-animal-milk-these-people-cooked/) [Octavia E. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-e-butler/) > [The current fast food that we have is inexpensive when you buy it, but the long-term costs of eating it and the long-term costs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/the-current-fast-food-that-we-have-is-inexpensive-when-you-buy-it-but/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [When you grow up where healthy food isn't easily accessible, you eat a lot of processed food and whatever else is available - McDonalds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabari-parker/when-you-grow-up-where-healthy-food-isn-t-easily-accessible-you-eat-a/) [Jabari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabari-parker/) > [Those externalized costs have always included labor. It is only the decline over time of the minimum wage in real dollars that's made the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/those-externalized-costs-have-always-included-labor-it-is-only-the/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Fast food may appear to be cheap food and, in the literal sense it often is, but that is because huge social and environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-charles/fast-food-may-appear-to-be-cheap-food-and-in-the-literal-sense-it-2/) [Prince Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-charles/) > [A lot of stuff, all the fast food, the cheap food, the dollar menu - I had to cut all that off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/a-lot-of-stuff-all-the-fast-food-the-cheap-food-the-dollar-menu-i-had/) [Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/) > [Fast food may appear to be cheap food and, in the literal sense it often is, but that is because huge social and environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-charles/fast-food-may-appear-to-be-cheap-food-and-in-the-literal-sense-it/) [Prince Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-charles/) > [Usually, cheap food is not nutritious. You're feeding people, but you're not really feeding people something that is good for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/usually-cheap-food-is-not-nutritious-you-re-feeding-people-but-you-re/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [Go to the farmers market and buy food there. You'll get something that's delicious. It's discouraging that this seems like such an elitist thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/go-to-the-farmers-market-and-buy-food-there-you-ll-get-something-that/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [I think Americas food culture is embedded in fast-food culture. And the real question that we have is: How are we going to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/i-think-americas-food-culture-is-embedded-in-fast-food-culture-and/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [A whole set of values comes with fast food: Everything should be fast, cheap and easy; there's always more where that came from; there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/a-whole-set-of-values-comes-with-fast-food-everything-should-be-fast/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [The fact that most kids aren't eating at home with their families any more really means they are eating elsewhere. They are eating out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/the-fact-that-most-kids-aren-t-eating-at-home-with-their-families-any/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [You do need some dispensation for local farmers, because the fast food industry will promote the unsanitary conditions of farming. With vegetables, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/you-do-need-some-dispensation-for-local-farmers-because-the-fast-food/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [In terms of kids not liking the food, I am shocked. I know that it's not true. I know that when kids are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/in-terms-of-kids-not-liking-the-food-i-am-shocked-i-know-that-it-s/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [The problem with living in a fast-food nation is that we expect food to be cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/the-problem-with-living-in-a-fast-food-nation-is-that-we-expect-food/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) ## More by Alice Waters > [It's a pleasure to talk to the farmers. That's my favorite part, always was. It's really the communication and exchange that builds communities. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/it-s-a-pleasure-to-talk-to-the-farmers-that-s-my-favorite-part-always/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [I think if you buy from people who are taking care of the land, you're supporting the future of this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/i-think-if-you-buy-from-people-who-are-taking-care-of-the-land-you-re/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [I believe that every child in this world needs to have a relationship with the land...to know how to nourish themselves...and to know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/i-believe-that-every-child-in-this-world-needs-to-have-a-relationship/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [Cooking and shopping for food brings rhythm and meaning to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/cooking-and-shopping-for-food-brings-rhythm-and-meaning-to-our-lives/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [I feel like old age in America is a very sad thing. I have been many different places around the world where getting older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/i-feel-like-old-age-in-america-is-a-very-sad-thing-i-have-been-many/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [It's around the table and in the preparation of food that we learn about ourselves and about the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/it-s-around-the-table-and-in-the-preparation-of-food-that-we-learn/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [I don't want food that comes from animals that are caged up and fed antibiotics. I am really suspicious of that kind of production…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/i-don-t-want-food-that-comes-from-animals-that-are-caged-up-and-fed/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [I wanted people to come to the restaurant and feel at home, so I put it in a house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/i-wanted-people-to-come-to-the-restaurant-and-feel-at-home-so-i-put/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [We make decisions every day about what we're going to eat. And some people want to buy Nike shoes - two pairs, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/we-make-decisions-every-day-about-what-we-re-going-to-eat-and-some/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [The act of eating is very political. You buy from the right people, you support the right network of farmers and suppliers who care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/the-act-of-eating-is-very-political-you-buy-from-the-right-people-you/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [I think health is the outcome of finding a balance and some satisfaction at the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/i-think-health-is-the-outcome-of-finding-a-balance-and-some/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [I eat meat, but no meat that isn't pastured is acceptable, and we probably need to eat a whole lot less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/i-eat-meat-but-no-meat-that-isn-t-pastured-is-acceptable-and-we/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [Food should be cheap, and labor should be cheap, and everything should be the same no matter where you go; whether it's a McDonald's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/food-should-be-cheap-and-labor-should-be-cheap-and-everything-should/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [Whenever I want to know how to cook something, I can't ask one chef - I have to ask six.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/whenever-i-want-to-know-how-to-cook-something-i-can-t-ask-one-chef-i/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [Our full humanity is contingent on our hospitality; we can be complete only when we are giving something away; when we sit at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/our-full-humanity-is-contingent-on-our-hospitality-we-can-be-complete/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) [Explore all 130 Alice Waters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) ## More Certain quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. 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It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/) [T. H. 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