11 - The family meal in Europe

Abstract

Meal frequency and irregular eating, characterized by skipping traditional regular main meals in favour of discontinuous snacking, has been explored in relation to arguments about ‘grazing’ becoming more prevalent. In Europe, ‘grazing’ has not been found to be a major trend at the beginning of the 21st century; on the contrary, a structured meal pattern is still common all over Europe. Sharing meals in a family context seems also to be a lively and present activity all over Europe. It is also an activity that European family members value as important. We can say that those people living together as a family most likely also eat together, and this is true mostly concerning the evening meal or dinner. The family meal seems to be a precursor of both nutritional and mental health. Thus, it is not the question of eating together that is a problem for European families in the beginning of the 21st century, but of what foods they decide to share together in everyday life.