To me nothing is more important than nourishing my body and soul by cooking from scratch with the most healthful ingredients, sitting down for dinner, and enjoying the food and the company. Food always came before soccer, but then I grew up in food cultures.

I know, decisions, decisions. Take-out most nights of the week? A sandwich on the way to the kids' game? Ready-made food from the supermarket? TV dinners (no, I think those are out - the new alternative is pre-assembled ingredients in a box - dinner making make believe)?

The sitting-down-together part of a meal is really important, and is mostly hindered by late working hours and kids' sports activities, according to Laurie Tarkan's article in a NYT article from 2005 that is still relevant. The other part that is just as important is the ingredients. I know the ingredients of my from-scratch dinners, but I'm suspicious of the ingredients in take-out food, prepared foods, and even those mail order gourmet meals. They are all a big compromise. Decisions, decisions.

Quality food, and how you eat it, is THE most basic and important health ingredient because it is the basis for supporting your immune system and rebuilding your damaged cells (quality in - quality out). Stress, rushing around, and eating your food on the run compromise your health - see a recent 2016 US News article on that. Decisions, decisions. But what are you with compromised health?