It is paradoxical that the art of simplification, often requires more effort, than not simplifiyng. The end result is usually worth it, provided that the motivating reasons for simplification are inline with a hollistic understanding of how a simplified culture can be enriching, of one’s life.

To expand on how motivating reasons can affect the end result, I will use two types of fast food as examples.

Using modern fast food outlets (burgers) as an example which is contradictory to the philosophy of this site. The aim for making food fast, is part of a strategy for increasing turnover and therefore profit, by providing convinience to customers. This however is only a part of the package. To make this system work to full advantage, requires keeping costs as low as possible, while making people like what they eat, enough to want to come back. Essentially this is done with large amounts of salt and sugar, in quantities that are not healthy.

That doesn’t, however, mean that all fast food is bad. If we take another example where profit isn’t the primary motive. Rather, the saving of fuel is the primary motivation. We can have fast food that is both tasty, and healthy. In this instance the fast food referred to, was born out of a scarcity of cooking fuel in China. The solution to this fuel crisis, was to cut the ingredients small, so they could be cooked quickly in a wok, hence using less fuel.

The result of this second example is simple, fast food which has both good flavour, and is healthy. While also being quick and easy to make.