Is a takeaway self-care?

There’s been a bit of a mini discourse on Twitter, regarding takeaway foods in the last couple days. Some people are passionately of the opinion that it’s ableist to say people who aren’t able to cook for themselves deserve to have hot food delivered to their door, whereas others opt to make fun of people for getting seemingly trivial things (a single serving of a coffee and a donut) doordashed to their house at some expense.

Now I’m not one to judge one way or another, but I do love a good curry. And it has been a wee while since I last had one, so we decided to order in for one tonight. It was lovely, succulent and everything I had dreamed of to say the least. I’m a great somatizer, and with the stressful week I’ve had, my body had basically reacted with disgust at the thought of taking food, opting instead to jitter nervously. That is, until tonight. I had quite the feast tonight! And I feel worlds better for it. Three helpings of butter chicken will have you feeling very satisfied indeed.

So what is it, is takeaway just self-care then? Should your GP prescribe you a Tikka Masala if you’re having a nervous spell? No I don’t think that’s quite right either. I think it’s still something of a self-indulgent thing. I shall continue to at least make an effort to cook dinner from scratch as often as I can, just to lead by example if nothing else. Is it a privileged position to be able to get hot food delivered to your door when you wish? Absolutely. Twitter will Twitter of course, but I have a feeling most of the people in the “real world” would join me in trying to tread this enlightened middle path.

A curry is sometimes very necessary. Doesn’t mean it can’t also be indulgent.