More than physical wellbeing; food is needed for survival, but how we eat is also important to our overall well being. In what other ways might this be?
In plate one, what struck me the most was ideas raised in the reading Cakes, community meals and charity. The article brings into light that meals requires more than just the provision of food, but the social practices embedded in food are just as important as the food itself.
Consider the common practice of socialising over the table, which thoughts, experiences and emotions are shared……Indeed, besides eating, social practices with food also constructs an important part of our table experience. One practice I would like to pick up, is one of my household rules I had to obey as a child, that is, before you can eat, having to wait until everyone has food on their plate.
I started to think about it , because of a research I came across online, which stated, that anthropological studies have shown human is the only animal species that takes account of hunger among others who are not direct relatives. This shed light to me on the meaning behind the practice of ‘wait’.
By waiting till everyone is served and seated to begin eating, this act not only shows the diner’s appreciation towards the person who cook the meal, but it also shows that they considers the people they shared meal with as their fellow group members. In this regard, in order to be a part of the group, every individual member have to assess everyone’s need as equal as their own. This act of waiting thus shows caring towards fellow diners—-the first step towards buidling group identity over the table.
The dinner table experience is thus, constructed by so much more than just eating.
References
Rebekah Graham, “Cakes, Community Meals and Charity: Responses to Food Insecurity”, in Kai and Culture: Food Stories From Aotearoa, edited by Emma Johnson, Freerange Press, 2017
I honestly don’t think about this too much, but I was also told to wait as a kid (sometimes still am). I feel like so many of us experienced this, and now it’s just habit. We all seem to do it, which is why I found myself agreeing so much with your post. Even if I am having an informal dinner on the couch while watching tv with my family, my sister and I always wait until my dad gets there too before we start. It has become its own little culture in a way, and definitely part of our group identity. It is a social practice in relation to food that you’ll see in so many different households, and one that I imagine will continue on to all of our future childern. The more I think about it, the more I realise how normal this is yet so strange compared to other animals.
I am sure to think about this more as you’re post has really got me thinking!
I also am guilty of not thinking about the social value of meal times! Your post has made me realise that our habits around food etiquette offer more than just a level of politeness.
Group identity especially for young people is so important in forming positive social connections and you’ve made it clear that food is an important part of this!
The mention of the anthropological studies is great, it is not often that I consider the science behind the the habits that form our daily interactions!