# RKS: THE EVOLUTION OF EATING HABITS - Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner & Beyond
# RKS: THE EVOLUTION OF EATING HABITS
BREAKFAST-LUNCH-DINNER & BEYOND
MEALS DISSECTED
DRIVERS FOR CHANGING MEAL PATTERNS
Dear Reader,
Lunch/brunch/dinner root is mēl (with a long E, for you phonics heads out there), and even in its early days in English just meant "an occasion" or "a particular time." Over the centuries, "meal" came to first mean that special occasion at which a family or a group of bonded individuals sit down and eat. The names used for specific meals in English vary, depending on the individual's culture, the time of day, or the size of the meal.
An appointed time for meal originated in 1200 BCE. However, it was much later, i.e. that is in 1865 that a 'Meal Ticket' was issued which literally meant entry to a dining hall. 'Meal-on-Wheels' terminology was first introduced in 1947 when mobile food delivery service first started.
It would be indeed intriguing to understand how the meal concepts evolved over centuries and it may make sense to analyze whether the current habits are healthy or healthier or, on the contrary, adverse to a healthy living.
THE 1-MEAL CONCEPT
In ancient times, people usually ate one daily meal that was considered unique and abundant to any other time for eating. For example, the ancient Romans (before 5th century BCE) consumed only one meal around midday, considering it a healthy choice and the only one able to guarantee good digestion.
THE 2-MEAL CONCEPT
The beginning of regular meal time is still debated, but it is generally believed to originate between 17th and 5th century BCE. The two meals are roughly equivalent to breakfast and lunch, but they are eaten much later: around 9 am and 4 pm.
BREAKFAST
The word “break” means to end or interrupt something. So “breakfast” literally means to break the fast that was observed during the night or early morning hours. The word “breakfast” has been in use in English since the 15th century, although the concept of breaking the fast in the morning dates back much further.
Interestingly, the word 'Dinner' was first used to refer to breakfast. The word “dinner” comes from the Old French word “disnar”, which in fact means “breakfast”. Around mid-13 century, that meaning of dinner faded away, and around 15th century "breakfast" came into use in written English to describe a morning meal.
The term breakfast originated in 15th century Europe but eating in the morning didn't become a daily ritual in Europe until the 1600's as this is when many people began going to work each day. The real first breakfast concept took shape not until the 17th century, when the first breakfast rooms were also designed.
The ancient Greeks seem to have anticipated the future trend of three daily meals; they were the first to introduce the new concept of ‘breakfast.’ In fact, many of the ancient Greeks used to eat bread soaked in wine as soon as they woke up, probably a custom born from the need to soften stale bread.
The East India Company made its expedition to India in the 19th century, and they brought with them the concept of breakfast in this country then for the first time.
BREAKFAST IN AMERICA
In the 1920's Americans typically ate light breakfasts of coffee, orange juice, rolls. It was much later that eggs and bacon became staple food items in breakfast.
Interestingly, jungle birds were domesticated for egg production in India by 3200 BC, and it is thought that Ancient Egypt and Ancient China were the first societies to domesticate hens. As far as bacon is concerned, it can be dated back to 1500 BC, making it one of the oldest cuts of meat. The phrase 'bringing home the bacon' originated in 12th century England. If a married man could testify in front of God that he had not argued with his wife in a year he would be awarded a side ('flitch') of bacon. It was a great honour to 'bring home the bacon'.
In order to increase bacon sales Edward Bernays (American pioneer in the field of public relations and propaganda and rated as one of 100 most influential Americans in 20th century) wrote to 5,000 physicians asking whether a heavy breakfast was better for health than a light breakfast. 4,500 physicians wrote back confirming that a heavy breakfast was better for health as the body is depleted of nutrients after a night of sleep. He had this 'study' published in newspapers across America, conveniently presenting bacon and eggs as the ideal choice for breakfast.
While bacon and eggs can now be found almost anywhere, it is not the first thing that comes to mind as breakfast in most countries.
BREAKFAST IN JAPAN
In Japan miso soup, white rice and fish are common breakfast items. Breakfast is usually a light meal and is often accompanied with green tea.
BREAKFAST IN NORTHERN EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA
Nordic countries typically eat open faced sandwiches for breakfast with cold meats, fish, cheese or vegetables.
BREAKFAST IN MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA (MENA)
Shakshuka is a breakfast dish originating in Northern Africa which is now popular throughout the middle east. It consists of eggs poached in a tomato sauce and is typically served with warm pita or naan.
BREAKFAST IN INDIA
Breakfast cuisine in India varies by region but is typically similar to foods eaten at lunch or dinner and may include roti, dosa, spiced potatoes and various chutneys.
LUNCH
The word 'lunch' is an abbreviation of “luncheon” and originated in 1650s. The original words nunchion, noontion, noonshyns, noneschenche - there were many spellings for this “noon drink,” none of which survived to the present day despite nuncheon being one of the most popular terms for lunch over several centuries. The Anglo-Saxon terminology 'nuncheon' stems from a combination of “noon” and an obsolete word schench, which meant “to have a drink.”
“Tiffin” is an Indian English (Anglo-Indian) word that was adopted into British English in the 1860's. The word 'tiffin' comes from the Indian term meaning 'light snack' or 'light meal'. In India, lunch came to be called tiffin, after the English slang tiffing, "to take a little drink." In Northern India, tiffin is basically lunch, often one packed in a tiered metal lunchbox also called a tiffin.
The equivalent of 'tiffin' in Japan is referred to as Bento boxes, which are typically a lunch box that serve a meal for one person. Bento box (B) in Japanese is written as 弁当 and pronounced obento. In India, it is always a change to try the cuisine served in a Bento B restaurant if one wishes to take a break from traditional South Indian, North Indian and also the popular Chinese, Italian and Mexican outlets which one commonly visit. Besides the most-widely known sushi, what needs to be savoured are ramen and okonomiyaki.
THE 3-MEAL CONCEPT
The three meals per day concept originated from Englanders who achieved financial prosperity. European settlers brought their eating habits with them to America; after some time it eventually became the eating pattern of most of the people around the globe.
The three meals per day concept originated from Englanders who achieved financial prosperity. European settlers brought their eating habits with them to America; after some time it eventually became the eating pattern of most of the people around the globe.
DINNER
The original word 'disner' meant the first meal of the day and was consumed initially during mid-day. As the word was absorbed into English as dinner, it came to refer to the “main” meal of the day, the timing of which changed over the centuries. Over time, the largest meal of the day, i.e. dinner, moved later and later in the day, until it was the evening meal. The reason why dinner as the main meal of the day was shifted to the evening was because people felt they could spend more time enjoying their food and spending time with their family.
SUPPER
“Supper,” however, stems from the Old French word “souper,” meaning “evening meal.” Supper also stems from the word "sup," and it is also related to the German word for soup ("suppe").
Typically, in England, lunch was called as dinner and the night dinner eating referred to as supper. The traditional English habit has been a light lunch in afternoon and a light supper at night with an intervening heavy dinner in evening. Supper is usually meant to complement a large dinner meal consumed earlier in the day either at home or in a restaurant.
If the grandparents or parents use the term "supper," there's a good chance such individual's ancestors were farmers.
ADDITIONAL MEALS
While having a small meal in between the other, bigger meals seems like a modern invention or the result of advances in marketing and food storage technology, the word “snack” dates all the way back to the 1300s. It’s from a Middle Dutch word, snacken, which means to snatch or to snap - like a jaw quickly 'scaring' down some food. The first written use of snack as a noun dates to the late 18th century. A few decades later, and people in Europe and the Americas were using “snack” as a verb to refer to eating a little bit of something to get them through a few hours.
Discounting the vagaries of Britain, if one wants a common order of the meals of the day, then it would go something as follows:
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Tea or High Tea
- Dinner
- Supper
To combine all three meals into one the need would be to typically modify it with "Big" and then choose the term appropriate for the time-frame in which it was taken. For example, "Big Breakfast" or "Big Lunch" or "Big Dinner".
BRUNCH
Brunch, combining Breakfast and Lunch, is usually eaten mid-morning, in-between the normal breakfast and lunch time-frame, and usually consists of both breakfast and lunch foods. Brunch is also called elvenses. Elevenses began in the 20th century when Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford, got for herself munchies to munch around mid-morning.
DUNCH
Linner (meal), a meal between lunch and dinner also known as lupper. Dunch or Dinch has been termed similarly on the basis of the terminology brunch - indicating combination of Dinner + Lunch. The earliest evidence for dunch is from 1569, in a translation by Thomas Newton, translator and Church of England clergyman.
There's not as much of a distinction between Lunch and Dinner menu items so there really isn't used any separate word commonly combining Lunch and Dinner. It's either a late lunch or an early dinner depending on which meals have been already eaten or planned to be consumed.
The original word 'disner' meant the first meal of the day and was consumed initially during mid-day. As the word was absorbed into English as dinner, it came to refer to the “main” meal of the day, the timing of which changed over the centuries. Over time, the largest meal of the day, i.e. dinner, moved later and later in the day, until it was the evening meal. The reason why dinner as the main meal of the day was shifted to the evening was because people felt they could spend more time enjoying their food and spending time with their family.
SUPPER
“Supper,” however, stems from the Old French word “souper,” meaning “evening meal.” Supper also stems from the word "sup," and it is also related to the German word for soup ("suppe").
Typically, in England, lunch was called as dinner and the night dinner eating referred to as supper. The traditional English habit has been a light lunch in afternoon and a light supper at night with an intervening heavy dinner in evening. Supper is usually meant to complement a large dinner meal consumed earlier in the day either at home or in a restaurant.
If the grandparents or parents use the term "supper," there's a good chance such individual's ancestors were farmers.
ADDITIONAL MEALS
While having a small meal in between the other, bigger meals seems like a modern invention or the result of advances in marketing and food storage technology, the word “snack” dates all the way back to the 1300s. It’s from a Middle Dutch word, snacken, which means to snatch or to snap - like a jaw quickly 'scaring' down some food. The first written use of snack as a noun dates to the late 18th century. A few decades later, and people in Europe and the Americas were using “snack” as a verb to refer to eating a little bit of something to get them through a few hours.
Discounting the vagaries of Britain, if one wants a common order of the meals of the day, then it would go something as follows:
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Tea or High Tea
- Dinner
- Supper
To combine all three meals into one the need would be to typically modify it with "Big" and then choose the term appropriate for the time-frame in which it was taken. For example, "Big Breakfast" or "Big Lunch" or "Big Dinner".
BRUNCH
Brunch, combining Breakfast and Lunch, is usually eaten mid-morning, in-between the normal breakfast and lunch time-frame, and usually consists of both breakfast and lunch foods. Brunch is also called elvenses. Elevenses began in the 20th century when Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford, got for herself munchies to munch around mid-morning.
DUNCH
Linner (meal), a meal between lunch and dinner also known as lupper. Dunch or Dinch has been termed similarly on the basis of the terminology brunch - indicating combination of Dinner + Lunch. The earliest evidence for dunch is from 1569, in a translation by Thomas Newton, translator and Church of England clergyman.
There's not as much of a distinction between Lunch and Dinner menu items so there really isn't used any separate word commonly combining Lunch and Dinner. It's either a late lunch or an early dinner depending on which meals have been already eaten or planned to be consumed.
CONCLUSIONS
The most important meals of the day and their designated timings are as follows.
- Early Morning Tea (EMT): Between 4 am and 6 am
- Breakfast: Between 7 am and 10.30 am
- Brunch: Around 11 am
- Lunch: Between 12.30 pm and 2.45 pm
- Tea: At 4 pm
- High Tea: Between 5.30 pm and 6.45 pm
- Dinner: Between 8 pm and 9 pm (before 9 pm according to the Vedas) - factor 3-4 hours gap between the meal and sleep
- Supper / Mid-Night Meals: Between 11.30 pm and 1.30 am
Work the timing given above as a general outline; it's ideal to eat every three to four hours, with a two to three hour window before bedtime.
Does one need three meals to be healthy? The short answer is no. The metabolism won't shut up shop if one doesn't eat soon on waking up, breakfast is indeed not the most important meal of the day and there is no inherent biological need to have three meals a day (or the recent trend of six smaller ones).
Interestingly OMAD, i.e. one-meal-a-day diet plan is a popular type of intermittent fasting being widely followed. It is common amongst many Indians to have brunch and depart for their workplace only to have their next main meal at home at night - the usual dinner. However, linner or dunch, call it what one wants, will in all probability be the new mealtime between 3 and 5 pm and might just be replacing brunch.
Before one forgets ... what is the best drinking time for alcohol? It has been suggested that one should booze with one's biggest meal of the day.
DR R K SANGHAVI
Prophesied Enabler
Experience & Expertise: Clinician & Healthcare Industry Adviser
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