Now that school is back in session, routines are back into effect as well. Mornings are back to being rushed for both children and parents. Afternoon and evening meals are planned beforehand, rushed in the making and scarfed down quickly to accommodate the work schedule. Perhaps we should be taking lessons from our neighbours across the pond when it comes to eating habits, since our own could be leading us into poor physical and mental health.
Since the birth of the online blog, those living abroad have archived their experiences. These experiences have been shared among expatriates, leading to an interesting discovery: the striking differences between American/Canadian and European eating habits. In Europe, France in particular, supper is eaten around 8 p.m. and can take anywhere from two to three hours to finish. This is not due to the amount of food, but to the amount of friends and family gathered around the table. Eating is a social experience, where conversation is the opening course. This “slow food” approach is an important part of their culture. It is also a smart approach, since one has a larger appetite in the presence of people. As a result of eating more at one meal, the need for snacking is then eliminated later. As for the food itself, portion sizes are much smaller and whole ingredients are used. These whole ingredients would be locally sourced nuts, fish, vegetables and oils. In Italy, the cappuccino is traditionally the only thing one would drink in the morning, for breakfast. In England, “afternoon tea” allows one to have something sweet during the day.
Compare all of this to the Canadian eating lifestyle; a glaring contrast. In 2015, a nationwide eating survey was conducted by the Ricardo Media Team. They found out that two-thirds of Canadians bring their lunch to work. This is likely because most lunch breaks are only half an hour, barely enough time to enjoy a sandwich and a beverage. Families eat together five out of seven days, and the meal they sit down to together most is supper. The average amount of time spent on a meal is thirty minutes, and is rarely planned out a day in advance. This is likely because of our demanding schedules.
Our careers and education are considered of high importance as opposed to eating. Thus, we tend to eat as fast as possible in order to get back to work. More often than not, this also means eating alone. Sweets are the food of choice in the morning; pancakes, muffins, cereals and toasts. Many snacks are had during the day, depending on if one even ate breakfast or lunch. Coffee is drunk whenever the mood strikes.
Our western lifestyle is not only demanding on our minds, but is demanding of our bodies. We cram pre-prepared, processed foods into our stomachs in a short amount of time, expecting to receive energy that lasts throughout the day. We eat when we can, and we choose to eat sweet. If we can begin to incorporate the eating habits of those in Europe a couple of things will begin to happen.
Number one is that families will be closer. With meal times dedicated to the family, more conversations can be had, leading to bonding and feelings of belonging. At the very least, the silence between you and your teenagers can become more comfortable. Secondly, time allotted for meals is a chance to think about nourishment. Meals that take longer to prepare are generally more nutritious. With better nutrition comes better memory, focus, stronger bodily function and balanced hormones.
The final thing to note is that longer meal times foster mindful eating. When you can sit and enjoy the meal in front of you without looming schedules and screen distractions, you begin to notice your chewing. Hearing the crunch of food between your jaws brings awareness to how much you eat and the diversity of textures you consume. This is helpful for those watching their weight and those who want to “fuel” their body properly.
Due to our business-centric lifestyle, our western eating habits have taken a toll on both our physical well-being and our mental well-being. In comparing our eating to that of our European half, we gain insight and a new understanding of mindful eating. In order to bring balance back, we must try to give our meal times a higher priority than our work schedules.
