Have we stopped eating together?
Do you drink while walking or eat in the car? According to a nutrition researcher, these habits are not good for digestion.
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Breakfast is consumed in front of the TV, and lunch in front of the computer. And when it is time for dinner, everyone is heading somewhere else.
"If we move or do other things while we eat, it's not good for digestion," Christine Henriksen said at a seminar at the University of Oslo recently.
The body and nervous system are simply occupied with other tasks. The brain and muscles take priority.
"This leaves less energy for digestion, which can lead to stomach discomfort," said Henriksen, who is a professor of nutrition at the University of Oslo.
"We've become a grazing society. Everything seems geared toward eating and drinking on the go. Even strollers now come with cup holders," said Karen Lykke.
She is a professor at the University of Oslo's Centre for Development and the Environment.
Children should not eat in front of screens
Christine Henriksen warned against letting children eat in front of screens.
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"Children are distracted by what they're watching. They don't pay as much attention to feelings of fullness," she said.
This also applies to adults. It becomes easy to overeat.
"If we eat in front of screens ourselves, we teach children that it's okay. Then the damage is done," said Karen Lykke.
Shared meals and eating alone were the topics of the seminar. Have we stopped eating together?
The father got the best food, while the children had to stand
In traditional farming communities, meals followed a strict order and routine.
Each person had an assigned spot at the long table. The head of the household sat closest to the fireplace, enjoying the warmest seat and the best food. However, everyone got to taste a bit of everything, Karen Lykke explained at the seminar.
The men sat along the wall, while the women took seats closer to the centre of the room, making it easier for them to stand and fetch food. The children had to stand.
Meals were scheduled at fixed times, dividing the workday into segments: breakfast, midday meal, dinner, afternoon meal, and supper. Each meal began and ended with a prayer.
"They ate in silence. There was great respect for the food, as having enough food on the table was not a given in those days," Lykke explained.
Money for food, but no time
"Today, we don't lack food, but time," said Thorgeir Kolshus.
He is a professor of social anthropology at the University of Oslo.
"When we accept a dinner invitation, we're giving the gift of time," he said.
When you visit someone for dinner, you cannot just wolf down your food and leave.
"A dinner visit isn't a quick, 30-minute affair. It takes a few hours. Leaving in the middle of dinner is considered rude, almost a form of protest," he said.
However, hosting a dinner is not as simple as it used to be. People have allergies, follow different diets, or avoid certain foods altogether.
"A new lease on life"
"This is the new reality, and it comes with challenges," said Christine Henriksen.
"Many people feel frustrated by the growing number of dietary needs these days. From the perspective of the person preparing the food, it can feel hurtful or difficult when guests can’t or won’t eat what’s served," she said.
However, according to Henriksen, it was not necessarily better in the past. Back then, many ate foods they could not tolerate.
"They dealt with strange symptoms and discomfort without understanding why. Now that we know more, many have found a new lease on life by following the right diet," said Henriksen.
The answer is a buffet
A buffet is the solution, argued Torgeir Kolshus. Especially for children with allergies who do not want to feel singled out.
"Buffets are brilliant because everyone can find something to eat. What each person has on their plate doesn't become the focus," he said.
Henriksen agreed that offering a variety of dishes is the best approach. She has interviewed children with milk allergies and celiac disease.
"They shared that one of the most hurtful experiences was when there was nothing they could eat, such as at a table filled with cakes," she said.
Henriksen highlighted the importance of checking with guests ahead of time to accommodate their needs.
"Can feel like a straitjacket"
Having dinner together is especially important for families with children, according to a study from Matprat (link in Norwegian).
"Children no longer go out to play when they have free time. Instead, they have scheduled activities. For families, trying to fit a shared dinner at 5 PM on top of everything else can feel like a straitjacket," said Kolshus.
"It's better to plan a few shared meals during the week where the focus is on spending time together and talking," he suggested.
In his own family, Kolshus has introduced a Sunday breakfast at 10 AM. His older children show up, no matter how late they were out the night before.
"Relax a little"
In Oslo, one in three people eat dinner alone, according to the Matprat survey.
People without children or those whose children have moved out are less particular about where they eat. About 30 per cent eat dinner on the sofa in front of the TV, while another 30 per cent eat in the kitchen.
Despite this, dinner remains an important meal. The survey revealed that 67 per cent of people in Norway eat dinner every day, while most of the rest eat dinner at least three times a week.
"We can afford to relax a little. Not every meal needs to be perfect, but we should remember how important meals are - both for our health and our social connections," said Christine Henriksen.
"When more people eat together, meals often become more varied than when eating alone," she said.
Henriksen encourages people who do not live in families to share meals with others.
"It works well for seniors, neighbours, and students alike," said Henriksen.
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Translated by Alette Bjordal Gjellesvik
Read the Norwegian version of this article on forskning.no
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