(Lack of) technology challenge... pt 3 wrap up

I know it's been a little while since I posted about my technology challenge, which wrapped up a week ago. I would have to say all in all, it was difficult. I missed being able to have hot foods when I wanted, partly because it is winter time and I am not very good about making tasty cold food. Had I completed this project in the summer, I think this would have been easier. But, I missed having the ability to cook in the manner that I wanted. It just made cooking more of a chore than I normally see it as.

(Lack of) Technology Challenge Week (pt1)

For my Culture, Technology & Organization class, my first assignment is to choose a technology that I have to live without for a week. Call it a "technology lent". Most people are not using smart phones, going without Google, or going without using debit or credit cards (one guy said people looked at him funny when he used his checkbook at the grocery store).  I've decided to go without any cooking technology that requires electricity or gas. That means no microwave, stove, toaster oven, oven, crock pot, or Keurig. When I mentioned my plan in class, the prof was actually surprised that I would go to the extreme of excluding the stove and oven. Most people would just give up the microwave and rely on the stove to heat food. If I were to only exclude the microwave, I really wouldn't be bothered by it. Having to live without the stove and oven adds a new level of complexity to this challenge.

For the past two days, I took a survey of all the cooking technologies I use and what I use them for. Here's how they break down for each meal.

• Breakfast: Keurig (coffee) and toaster oven (bagel) or microwave (instant oatmeal).
• Lunch: Microwave (reheat left overs from the night before)
• Snack: Microwave - for the few times I heat up edamame for my snacks
• Dinner: Microwave (thaw meats or heat up canned veggies), stove or oven (main cooking).

I haven't fully thought out how I'm going to complete this challenge, especially since I like LOVE to cook. I think this will be a week of salads, sandwiches, and other cold foods.