The working world, when it was male dominant, was 100x more fun to work in. Guys could "shoot-the-shit" with each other, say whatever they wanted and competitiveness was seen as fun not as "toxic". The work environment when it was male dominant made people better because the men would compete with one another and strive to improve. Work was actually a lot more "fun" and in some ways it was a "safe-space" for men to get away from all the drama and toxicity that existed in their personal lives.
Women have utterly destroyed the workplace. Men's lives are inarguably much worse with women in the workplace. Nothing good has come of this.
Tell my hungry Toddlerthat breakfast can be skipped, then.
And the prep time is definitely not passive. I soak beans, yes, but also chop and clean vegetables, caramelize onions, make doughs, wash rice and barley etc.
I don't need to clean meat very much or remove the silverskin, because my wife is a vegetarian, but that is also part of prep and it's not passive.
Traditional meals, like this, or this, or this all require active prep and involvement.
You know why I do it? Because this type of food, eaten with my family, is part of inculturation and education as well as binding the family together.
Here's a really tasty cookie recipe, so you can have something nice for yourself. Merry Christmas.