Meal Time: More than Just Food

• February 8th, 2012
• Posted in Eat, Health, Nutrition
• 6 Comments

Perhaps I’m too “old school.” I have been described as a granny, been told I’m “very proper” on multiple first meeting occasions, and have found myself wishing I lived in the air of the rat pack. But, I happen to be a HUGE proponent of the family meal.

This past week I attended The Power of Snacking, a panel discussion, based off a study from LUNA and the Institute for the Future (IFTF). Basically, the study highlighted generational trends in women’s snacking over the next ten years. It was a well-done discussion. The point that grabbed me most; however, was that traditional meals were being let go, so to speak, and snack times, or rather “eating occasions,” were becoming more dominant, as “women are no longer forcing their days to accommodate traditional eating patterns, but rather choosing to snack at times most appropriate for them” due to pressures of everyday life.

Now, I love snacking and recommend it to all my clients. If you go longer than four hours without eating, yes, you need a snack (protein and high-fiber carbs of course … think turkey slices and an apple) to help regulate blood sugar levels and control hunger, so you don’t overeat at the next meal. Sorry—nutrition coming out in me! And, I ADORE that women are fitting food around their schedule. I certainly do, as no day’s schedule is exactly the same for me either and my work hours can be somewhat odd, but there’s something about that family meal.

The Family (or Friend) Meal: More than Just a Meal

Growing up, my family had a semi-strange schedule. My Mom would leave for work around 5:30 pm (her shift was 7 pm to 7 am). She worked nights in the Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) … still does. My Dad was and is a wine broker and would return around 7 pm or so—whenever he’d get done with his last account. My sister (one-year my junior), and I would get home from sports around 4:30 or so, and my baby sister, at the time (11 years my junior), would be home, perhaps with a sitter, watching Teletubbies, or something of that nature.  Everyone seemed to be all over the place during the day. But, come 5 pm, my sisters and I would gather around the kitchen, perhaps eat something, depending how hungry we were and talk with my Mom. And, when my father came home, it was the same deal. Whether we’d already had dinner or not, we’d still gather around, fill him in on our day, and perhaps do some healthy noshing.

On days when we were all there, we’d sit down together. I loved this. I loved it even more when all sides and witch-ways of my crazy yet oh-so-loveable family came together. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, tell one family member something and it’s as if a Corinne’s family status update has gone out! … Soon, they all know … and the calls, texts, and voicemails start to flow! So, if you want to keep a secret, don’t tell my family! But, this is what makes me love those people so gosh-darn much—they care, that much.

Why Proper Meal or Snack Time is Important (to me)

And this is why I LOVE the notion of the family meal. In a time where texts dominate, emails are seen as formal, and for children and teens alike, group work and understanding the concept of empathy is stressed in school, the family meal seems just that much more important. After talking with the Dean of Students of my old high school, I was shocked to learn this—what? Kids are having a hard time expressing and recognizing empathy for one another? And it’s forecasted that our reliance on technology will only further … so we could end up with folks who can’t communicate effectively or recognize emotions easily? MMMM….

Now, this may be a tad dramatic, and you all know that I adore social media (and technology), but I also most thoroughly enjoy the one-on-one old-fashioned art of human in-person (or, in-voice …take what you can get with a crazy schedule) type of communication.

My Food for Thought

Today, people’s schedule are whack-a-doo crazy busy. But, as the Power of Snacking study suggested, “many women (I say men and kids as well) still view meals as important moments for connection during their day.” And as I’ve seen with my family/couple clients, the act of eating the same meal together not only reinforces positive healthy eating habits, but it improves children’s’ sense of community, belonging, and ability to effectively communicate. Whether it be a family meal or snack, try to make it work. Your kids will thank you later—promise.

What are your thoughts on the family meal? Do you eat together—whether family or friends?

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