Eating together

Many times when we eat dinner (and we do that together almost every evening), we talk about people and their food/eating habits. Actually no, we talk about their life habits and why (oh why?) so many people think food is the least important thing in their lives: why mothers don't pay attention to what their kids eat; why grownups say that they would like to change their eating habits, but don't; why we think that our meals have to be trendy, not real and honest; and why they compete about who has had a meal in Michelin restaurants, but when they return home, they eat crap.

I know it is easy for me to talk about this since I'm a food addict, and some people like to call me gourmand (I hate that word). I am an addict – yes, but only in that way that I do not put in my mouth every little thing that is put in front of me. No. Life is much harder for me – I only like to eat the things I value, something I consider good for my body and that brings joy + tastes great. That is the hardest combination of all, considering that most of the time, the food has to be made in 30 minutes during the week. But I do that, sometimes in 30 minutes, sometimes in 1h, depending on the way the day goes. But we always sit down at the end of the day to have a meal together, because that is the one time we are all there, at home, and interested in the things that have happened in each other’s lives.

So, every time I hear that someone goes to the gym at dinnertime and does not have family meal together, I get sad. Not because I judge them, but because I think about how much our society’s values have changed, and by that I mean, time spent together daily. Yes, I know that some may say that that is all bullshit (so sorry about this expression, but that's what people do say) – that eating is not the only way to spend time together, but you know what – I believe it is. It has always been – the best relationships have developed by sitting at the table and eating (eating chocolate coated strawberries and Champagne or a hearty soup), the deepest secrets have been told while eating, the best ideas have been born, and the loudest laughs have sparkled during dinnertime. And, most of the love has been declared at the table.

It is not my thing to judge anyone, and I do not, but it is my wish for you to think about that. About the reasons we do not cook daily, why we do not sit at the table together, why we are afraid to talk at the table, and why we do not care about each other. Yes, we are running around and have no time for everything nowadays, but at the same time, we know that we all decide to have or not have that time. I choose to have it, and I have always had it (even when I had babies at home, slept 4h a day, had my business, and worked 18 h a day), because that’s all that matters – good food and conversation: talking to each other while eating the food that has been prepared with love and care.

Story and pictures: Signe Meirane
Camera: Sony Alpha 7s