Meal
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2008-07-16T09:12:44Z
Ykhwong
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:''For the coarsely ground flour, see [[flour]].''
[[Image:Lunch Iraq.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Marines having lunch during Operation Iraqi Freedom.]]
A '''meal''' is an instance of [[eating]], specifically one that takes place at a specific time and includes specific, prepared [[food]].
Meals occur primarily at [[home]]s, [[restaurant]]s, and [[cafeteria]]s, but may occur anywhere. Regular meals occur on a daily basis, typically several times a day. Special meals are usually held in conjunction with such occasions as [[birthday]]s, [[wedding]]s, [[Wedding anniversary|anniversaries]], and [[holiday]]s.
A meal is different from a snack in that meals are larger and more filling, while snacks are more likely to be small, high-calorie affairs; however, any food eaten in small amounts at an unscheduled time can be classified as a snack.
A [[picnic]] is an outdoor meal where one brings one's food, such as a [[sandwich]] or a prepared meal (sometimes in a [[picnic basket]]). It often takes place in a natural or recreative area, such as a [[park]], [[forest]], [[beach]], or grassy [[lawn]]. On long drives a picnic may take place at a road-side stop such as a [[rest area]].
A [[banquet]] is a large, often formal, and elaborate meal with many guests and dishes.
==A multicourse meal==
{{Meals}}
Most [[Western culture|Western-world]] multicourse meals follow a standard sequence, with each course interacting harmoniously with those that introduce and follow it. There are variations depending on location and [[Convention (philosophy and social sciences)|custom]]. The following is a common sequence for multi-course meals:
# The meal begins with an ''entrée'', a small serving that usually does not include red meat. It is sometimes referred to as a ''[[soup]] course'' as soups, bisques and consommés are popular entreés. In Italian custom, ''[[antipasto]]'' is served, usually ''finger-food'' which does not contain pasta or any [[starch]]. In the United States the term ''appetizer'' is usually used in place of entrée as entrée is used to refer to the ''main course''
# This may be followed by a variety of dishes, including a possible [[fish]] course or other ''relevés'' (lighter courses), each with some kind of vegetable. The number and size of these intermittent courses is entirely dependent on local custom.
# Following these is the ''"main course"'' or central part of the meal. This is the most important course and is usually a larger portion than all others. The main course is called an entrée in the United States
# Next comes the '''[[salad]] course''', although "salad" may often refer to a cooked vegetable, rather than the greens most people associate with the word. According to the Joy of Cooking, greens serve "garnish duty only" in a salad course. Note that in the United States and Great Britain, the salad course (usually a green salad) is usually served at some point before the main course.
# The meal will often culminate with a '''[[dessert]],''' either hot or cold, sometimes followed with a final serving of '''hot or cold fruit''' and accompanied by a suitable [[dessert wine]].
# The meal may carry on with a '''[[cheese]] selection''', accompanied by an appropriate selection of wine. In many countries cheeses will be served before the meal as an appetizer, and in the United States often between the main course and dessert. Nuts are also a popular after-meal selection (thus the common saying "from soup to nuts," meaning from beginning to end).
[[Sorbet]] or other [[palate]] cleansers might be served between courses.
Before the meal, a host might serve a selection of [[appetizers]] or [[hors d'œuvre]] with appropriate [[wine]] or [[cocktail]]s, and after the meal, a host might serve [[Snack food|snacks]], sweets such as [[chocolate]], [[coffee]], and after-dinner drinks ([[cognac (drink)|cognac]], [[brandy]], [[liqueur]], or similar). These are not considered courses in and of themselves.
A meal may also begin with an [[amuse-bouche]]. An amuse-bouche, also called an amuse-gueule, is a tiny bite-sized morsel served before the hors d'œuvre or first course of a meal. These, often accompanied by a proper complementing wine, are served as an excitement of taste buds to both prepare the guest for the meal and to offer a glimpse into the chef's approach to cooking.
==Customs, tradition, and etiquette==
[[Image:Krönungsmahl 1558.jpg|thumb|right|150px|A meal at the court of [[Emperor Ferdinand I]], 1558.]]
Customs and [[tradition]]s regarding eating and meals vary from [[country]] to country, as well as within countries, based on such factors as [[region|regional differences]], [[social class]], [[education]], and [[religion]]. In a complex, multi-cultural [[society]] there is increased risk of different customs and traditions clashing. What is correct behaviour, and what is not, and in what circumstances is the provenance of [[etiquette]].
Examples of different customs and traditions:
[[Image:Plate makeup.jpg|thumb|150px|right|General make-up of a plate]]
* Food in some cultures is eaten from individual [[plate]]s or [[bowl (vessel)|bowls]], while in other cultures people eat from a common one. Even where people tend to eat from individual plates, there may be exceptions, as in the case of some small pieces of food that can be held in the hand easily, such as [[cookie]]s or some [[snack food]]s, where it is common to eat from a common plate, biscuit tin, or similar container.
* Different cultures might have different rules for eating the same item. In the USA people eat sausages in a bun, or with a knife and fork, while in some countries in Europe sausages are held between the fingers while being eaten.
* In some cultures, it is considered proper to wait until everyone is seated before starting to eat, while in other cultures it is not an issue.
* In some cultures it is considered proper to wait for the host to give the command before guests sit at the table for a meal, while in other cultures there are different rules.
*In some religions, people [[prayer|pray]] or read aloud from a religious text before and possibly also after eating. In diverse, religiously mixed company where some people might want to pray, and others might not, it may be proper etiquette to allow for a short time of silence allowing those who want to do so the chance to pray.
==Daily meals==
[[Image:Meal times.JPG|thumb|150px|right|Most-people's meals set-up]]
Standard meals eaten on a daily basis have different names depending on the time of day or the importance of the meal:
*[[Breakfast]] is usually eaten within an hour or two after a person wakes up in the morning.
*[[Elevenses]] is a drink and light snack taken late morning after breakfast and before lunch.
*[[Brunch]] is a late-morning meal, usually larger than a breakfast and usually replacing both breakfast and lunch; it is most common on Sundays.
*[[Lunch]] is a midday meal. May also be classified as dinner outside the US. It is eaten around noon in Northern countries and around 2 pm further south.
*[[Afternoon_tea#Afternoon_tea|Afternoon Tea]] is a midafternoon meal - typically taken at 4pm - consisting of light fare such as small sandwches, individual cakes and scones with [[tea]].
*[[Afternoon_tea#High_tea|High Tea]], also simply called "Tea" is a late afternoon / early evening meal that replaces the evening meal referred to as dinner
*[[Dinner]] can be at any time of the afternoon or evening and usually denotes the main meal of the day; sometimes it is at lunchtime and sometimes at suppertime.
*[[Supper]] is usually an evening meal.
"Many years ago nutrition professionals advised 'eat 3 square meals a day and no between meal snacking'. However, now we know there are several benefits to snacking.
*Binge control—eating a few whole grain crackers or a piece of fruit may keep you from taking second helpings at your next meal, lowering your overall calorie intake for the day
*Extra energy and nutrients—a well chosen, planned snack can provide an energy boost and important nutrients to get you through a busy day
*Blood glucose control—Eating something with nutritional value every 3 to 5 hours can keep your glucose level more stable which improves mental alertness"<ref> [http://www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu/nutritionclinic/handouts/aug12_05.pdf Iowa State University - Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition] Nutrition clinic handout</ref>
Regarding which particular foods are acceptable for specific meals; the specific food has no meaning to whether or not the meal is breakfast, lunch or dinner. Depending on the culture, various foods are acceptable for any meal. For example, in the United States several restaurants serve what people consider traditional breakfast foods all day.
A meal can be considered breakfast if it satisfies the following criteria:
1. It is the first meal of the day.
2. It is eaten before noon on the calendar day.
At work, a [[coffee break]] is often taken by workers as part of the work day. How many of these coffee breaks one takes in the day varies, but two short breaks in an eight-hour day seems to be the norm in North America. A coffee break may last as little as ten minutes or as long as half an hour, but fifteen minutes seems to be the norm for office workers. In North America and other parts of the western world, coffee is generally regarded as the universal workplace beverage; it seems that nearly every workplace has some sort of access to a hot cup of coffee.
==See also==
* [[Airline meal]]
* [[Cuisine]]
* [[Food]]
* [[Full breakfast]]
* [[Leftovers]]
* [[List of eating utensils]]
* [[Microwave meal]]
* [[Nutrition]]
* [[Potluck]]
* [[Tea (meal)]]
* [[TV dinner]]
==Sources and notes==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.history-magazine.com/dinner2.html “What Time is Dinner?”], a historian looks at the evolution of mealtimes.
[[Category:Meals| ]]
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