---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Spend as much time enjoying the meal as…"
description: "\"Spend as much time enjoying the meal as it took to prepare it\" — Michael Pollan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/michael-pollan-408_enjoy_spend-as-much-time-enjoying-the-meal-as_3131456.png"
---

#  Spend as much time enjoying the meal as it took to prepare…

![“Spend as much time enjoying the meal as it took to prepare it” quote by Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/michael-pollan-408_enjoy_spend-as-much-time-enjoying-the-meal-as_3131456.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/michael-pollan-408_enjoy_spend-as-much-time-enjoying-the-meal-as_3131456.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/michael-pollan-408_enjoy_spend-as-much-time-enjoying-the-meal-as_3131456.png)

> “Spend as much time enjoying the meal as it took to prepare it”

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Enjoying a meal should match the care taken to prepare it, fostering gratitude and mindfulness.

**In simple terms:** Savor meals as much as cooking them.

Key Takeaway

Practice mindful eating.

Themes

food mindfulness gratitude culture

Mood

inspirational calm

Type

philosophical practical

When to use this quote

- home cooking
- restaurant dining
- food festivals
- family meals

Key Concepts

culinary arts psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you incorporate gratitude into rushed meals?
- What simple steps make cooking more mindful?

A Different Perspective

May be impractical for busy schedules or limited cooking skills.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [There's something magical that happens when people eat from the same pot. The family meal is really the nursery of democracy. It's where we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/there-s-something-magical-that-happens-when-people-eat-from-the-same/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [In the end, it's all about taking your time and enjoying the journey without worrying too much about the destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-stanger/in-the-end-it-s-all-about-taking-your-time-and-enjoying-the-journey/)

[Patti Stanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-stanger/)

> [I am always floating around trying to tend to everyone and be free while at the same time enjoying some space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/i-am-always-floating-around-trying-to-tend-to-everyone-and-be-free/)

[Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/)

> [“In order to know My will, you must spend time with Me— enjoying My Presence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-young/in-order-to-know-my-will-you-must-spend-time-with-me-enjoying-my/)

[Sarah Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-young/)

> [Depending on whom you ask, time is money, time is love, time is work, time is play, time is enjoying friends, time is raising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/depending-on-whom-you-ask-time-is-money-time-is-love-time-is-work/)

[Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/)

> [At the end of the day, I know that I make my living by dressing up, fooling around, playing pranks and giving people a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyrus-broacha/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-know-that-i-make-my-living-by-dressing-up/)

[Cyrus Broacha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyrus-broacha/)

> [Success could be that moment of time when you're enjoying the fruits of your labour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/success-could-be-that-moment-of-time-when-you-re-enjoying-the-fruits/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [Now I look back and think if I'd spent more time enjoying myself instead of crying into my pillow over men, my 20s would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-van-outen/now-i-look-back-and-think-if-i-d-spent-more-time-enjoying-myself/)

[Denise Van Outen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-van-outen/)

> [“The harvest is a joyful time of enjoying the results of your labor and ministry”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-harvest-is-a-joyful-time-of-enjoying-the-results-of-your-labor/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [When we love something it is of value to us, and when something is of value to us we spend time with it, time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-love-something-it-is-of-value-to-us-and-when-something-is-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Quantity in diet is more to be regarded than quality. A full meal is a great enemy both to study and industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/quantity-in-diet-is-more-to-be-regarded-than-quality-a-full-meal-is-a/)

[Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/)

> [It's all about portion control. Grilled fish, a small amount of wild rice and vegetables is a good meal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hurley/it-s-all-about-portion-control-grilled-fish-a-small-amount-of-wild/)

[Elizabeth Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hurley/)

> [I grew up in Harlem. My grandmother was one of the best cooks around, but the first thing she did on Sunday mornings when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/i-grew-up-in-harlem-my-grandmother-was-one-of-the-best-cooks-around/)

[Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/)

> [I love to eat an apple after a meal, just to cleanse my teeth - they always look polished afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-love-to-eat-an-apple-after-a-meal-just-to-cleanse-my-teeth-they/)

[Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/)

> [I had my first French meal and I never got over it. It was just marvelous. We had oysters and a lovely dry white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/i-had-my-first-french-meal-and-i-never-got-over-it-it-was-just/)

[Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/)

## More by Michael Pollan

> [“In the same way that the picturesque designers were always careful to include some reminder of our mortality in their gardens -- a ruin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/in-the-same-way-that-the-picturesque-designers-were-always-careful-to/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [My hope is that if people have the knowledge, and if they actually see where their food comes from and have access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/my-hope-is-that-if-people-have-the-knowledge-and-if-they-actually-see/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [The problem is that we let special-occasion food become everyday food. That goes for soda and french fries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/the-problem-is-that-we-let-special-occasion-food-become-everyday-food/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [Every peasant cuisine has incredible ingenious tricks for getting a lot of nutrition out of a small amount of ingredients. There are people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/every-peasant-cuisine-has-incredible-ingenious-tricks-for-getting-a/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [“In ancient Greece, the word for “cook,” “butcher,” and “priest” was the same—mageiros—and the word shares an etymological root with “magic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/in-ancient-greece-the-word-for-cook-butcher-and-priest-was-the-same/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [In the end I'm still a writer. I'm still a journalist, and my first responsibility is to my readers. That's where I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/in-the-end-i-m-still-a-writer-i-m-still-a-journalist-and-my-first/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [Seeds have the power to preserve species, to enhance cultural as well as genetic diversity, to counter economic monopoly and to check the advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/seeds-have-the-power-to-preserve-species-to-enhance-cultural-as-well/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [“The bubble logic driving tulipomania has since acquired a name: “the greater fool theory.” Although by any conventional measure it is folly to pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/the-bubble-logic-driving-tulipomania-has-since-acquired-a-name-the/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [“Of the seven deadly sins, surely it is pride that most afflicts the gardener.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/of-the-seven-deadly-sins-surely-it-is-pride-that-most-afflicts-the/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [Growing corn, which from a biological perspective had always been a process of capturing sunlight to turn into food, has in no small measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/growing-corn-which-from-a-biological-perspective-had-always-been-a/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [Eat with consciousness. When you eat with consciousness, and you know what you're eating, and you eat it in full appreciation of what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/eat-with-consciousness-when-you-eat-with-consciousness-and-you-know/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [This is part of human nature, the desire to change consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/this-is-part-of-human-nature-the-desire-to-change-consciousness/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [“...whenever I hear people say clean food is expensive, I tell them it's actually the cheapest food you can buy. That always gets their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/whenever-i-hear-people-say-clean-food-is-expensive-i-tell-them-it-s/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [“Imagine if we had a food system that actually produced wholesome food. Imagine if it produced that food in a way that restored the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/imagine-if-we-had-a-food-system-that-actually-produced-wholesome-food/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [“CONSULT YOUR GUT.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/consult-your-gut/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

[Explore all 584 Michael Pollan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

## More Enjoy quotes

> [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/)

[Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/)

> [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/)

[Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/)

> [The Fringe is by far my favorite time of year; I like everything about it. But there are people I know who are much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-horne/the-fringe-is-by-far-my-favorite-time-of-year-i-like-everything-about/)

[Alex Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-horne/)

> [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/)

[Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/)

> [The Germans will make a few scattered attacks, then go away. The Romans will enjoy a fine September.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-badoglio/the-germans-will-make-a-few-scattered-attacks-then-go-away-the-romans/)

Pietro Badoglio

> [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/)

[Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/)

> [I enjoy upsetting the right people. I love poking fun at earnest censors. I want to push the bounds of what can be said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/i-enjoy-upsetting-the-right-people-i-love-poking-fun-at-earnest/)

[Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/)

> [I don't own a yacht or a flashy car. I've always had safe cars because I do so much driving. I don't think I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-don-t-own-a-yacht-or-a-flashy-car-i-ve-always-had-safe-cars-because/)

[Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/)

> [I really enjoy going to play for the national team and be with the guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedi-osman/i-really-enjoy-going-to-play-for-the-national-team-and-be-with-the/)

[Cedi Osman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedi-osman/)

> [The evening's the best part of the day. You've done your day's work. Now you can put your feet up and enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/the-evening-s-the-best-part-of-the-day-you-ve-done-your-day-s-work/)

[Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/)

> [I really enjoy hosting, not necessarily because it provides more airtime, but because it allows me to be a part of more substantive discussions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-ponder/i-really-enjoy-hosting-not-necessarily-because-it-provides-more/)

[Samantha Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-ponder/)

> [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/)

[Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/)

> [Today it is the skeptics who are the social conformists, though because of powerful intellectual propaganda they continue to enjoy thinking of themselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/today-it-is-the-skeptics-who-are-the-social-conformists-though/)

[Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/)

> [Certainly, it is. Love is love, and loss is loss. We all love, and we all die, and everyone suffers the pain of grieving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/certainly-it-is-love-is-love-and-loss-is-loss-we-all-love-and-we-all/)

[Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/)

Browse all 13,068 Enjoy quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Spend as much time enjoying the meal as it took to prepare it",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Pollan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/spend-as-much-time-enjoying-the-meal-as-it-took-to-prepare-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Enjoy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/spend-as-much-time-enjoying-the-meal-as-it-took-to-prepare-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/michael-pollan-408_enjoy_spend-as-much-time-enjoying-the-meal-as_3131456.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/michael-pollan-408_enjoy_spend-as-much-time-enjoying-the-meal-as_3131456.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/michael-pollan-408_enjoy_spend-as-much-time-enjoying-the-meal-as_3131456.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Spend as much time enjoying the meal as it took to prepare it” — Michael Pollan",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Michael Pollan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Spend as much time enjoying the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/spend-as-much-time-enjoying-the-meal-as-it-took-to-prepare-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/spend-as-much-time-enjoying-the-meal-as-it-took-to-prepare-it/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
