Eating in Denmark

I am happy to report back that it is true that the culture of eating out is virtually non-existent in Denmark. I think part of this is because of the high cost of eating in a restaurant (coffee and a pastry at a cafe costs about 50-60 kroner, which is about 10-12 dollars), which supports the high minimum wage in the country. To think that a food service worker can actually survive on minimum wage, which hovers around $20 an hour, may seem insane to most Americans, but I think it’s a matter of where you place your priorities – high living wages for all or profit-driven competition with a race to the bottom in overhead costs. I’ll take high restaurant wages any day, personally. Additionally, I think there is a general appreciation for cooking in the home and the hygge (coziness) that comes along with it.

My typical breakfast

ANYWAY, tangential thinking aside, I have found it relatively easy to eat on the cheap, espcially now that I am out of Copenhagen and in Roskilde. Eating at home is a breeze, with the normal staples of pasta, rice, and potatoes being pretty cheap. Dairy goods, especially cheese, are a huge part of the daily diet and are really affordable. I’ve even incorporated the super tart but tasty Danish yogurt into my breakfast.  All in all, it’s not as tough as I thought to keep my food costs low, though I’ll most likely tire of the staples soon.

I look forward to trying all the weird fish I see in the market, but can’t afford yet. And yes, this means I started eating meat here. I’d hate to miss out on any part of the Danish culture because of my moral and ethical beliefs. Plus, with the EU standards of animal harvesting being higher, I don’t have the same level of guilt about supporting the industry.

A dinner from a few days ago