The Fascinating History of Dinner Time

re: The Fascinating History of Dinner Time

ThomasT — Thu, 10 May 2007 17:20:30 GMT

Re those who say the EU is getting it right. Rubbish, I say. The EU has no interest in your health. If they did then WHY do they not allow the import of vitamins, herbs, or EDTA, from US. It is obvious the ignorant politicians are in the pocket of big pharma. If they were at all concerned about our health, they would ban E621, monosodium glutamate in most all preserved meats, and aspartame in drinks, merdicines etc. Both powerful carcinogenic neurotoxins. they would ban microwave ovens, teflon cookware, soya and rapeseed oils, and all non- fermented soy product. They wouldnt fluoridate oyur water etc etc...The nutritional advice the mainstream quacks give out are 50 years out of date. All they can mumble about is calories and cholesterol, both pseudo scientific nonsense. They probably heard it from their wives as they only did a couple of hours of nutrition in Uni.

re: The Fascinating History of Dinner Time

bookaholics.anon — Thu, 10 May 2007 10:22:13 GMT

I lived and worked in Germany recently. Dinner was the big meal at lunchtime, and even though we worked at a busy factory, we had a full hour for lunch and were expected to take the time off and eat, not sit at the desk. My colleagues would eat a huge meal at lunch, eat a small sandwich or boiled egg for breakfast and dinner in the evening was usually fruit or a salad, or yogurt or cereal or a few slices of rye bread and some cheese (in fact, in our area, dinner was called "Brotzeit" or bread-time.)

re: The Fascinating History of Dinner Time

Antoinetta_Ferrari — Thu, 10 May 2007 07:32:17 GMT

In Italy I eat a relaxed, long lunch around 1pm, and my "supper" is eaten around 9pm. This is pretty typical in Italy. In Argentina, we ate lunch closer to 2 or 3, and dinner could be around 11pm or midnight...

The secret ingredient of meals in both these countries is conversation. People enjoy each other's company, talk a lot, and eat in a relaxed, attentive manner. As a result, they are more conscious and they also enoy the food - and their loved ones - more. :-) And they're all pretty slender.

re: The Fascinating History of Dinner Time

ebatycki — Thu, 10 May 2007 06:18:14 GMT

I was visiting my grandma in Germany last summer... oh boy she went ballistic when I said I thought it was strange that we ate the same thing for breakfast and dinner (because by the evening I was expecting a huge meal, and all I got was like a bagel lol).

I was like "it's just strange to me is all" and she got so upset because apparently the biggest meal of the day for her was at 1pm, when I wasn't ready to eat so much (and I couldn't even finish the meal! which never happens with me).

I realized she was right though, it seemed more correct when I started to think about it, but I don't understand how it could work when everyone comes home at 5pm?

re: The Fascinating History of Dinner Time

sucram — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 01:29:06 GMT

oops srry about the triple post, i thought it didnt post

re: The Fascinating History of Dinner Time

sucram — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 01:27:43 GMT

This isnt relevant but someone please answer me this-

-are rolled oats wholemeal? I think they might remove the bran so maybe they arent and if not what are wholemeal oats called?

-are oats really good for your digestion (or at least better than most grains), i have some digestive problems and I find that my body tolerates oats much better than other wholegrain foods.

re: The Fascinating History of Dinner Time

sucram — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 01:27:09 GMT

re: The Fascinating History of Dinner Time

sucram — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 01:27:03 GMT

re: The Fascinating History of Dinner Time

The Herb Doc — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:16:57 GMT

Do yourselves all a favor and read Dr. Mercolas article, my seven practical recommendations

I must quote from this:

Among families who do eat together regularly:

They tend to spend more time reading for pleasure and on homework

They experience less tension among family members

Children are more likely to feel their parents are proud of them

Children are 40 percent more likely to get mainly A's and B's in school

People need to take this to heart!

re: The Fascinating History of Dinner Time

proatc — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 19:55:24 GMT

I think the EU is getting it right with some countries having a siesta or bigger break in the middle of the day for food. I also think France is leading the way, unfortunately, with a 35 hour work week instead of 40, and there is a mandatory 25 to 30-days paid vacation during the first year of employment? (Someone please let me know if this is true or not). Too much capitalism in America to work any less to keep up with the Jones' of the country. They also have better transportation to avoid the long, stressful commutes. Italians spend a lot of time at meals with friends and family, not unusual to have a 2-3 hour dinner. My house is lucky to have more than 30 minutes before we have finished and moved on, no patience anymore I guess. So maybe its has to do more with whom you eat with as much as for how long or with family?
I will stop right there though, its not all that great over the pond, or there would be more flocking from the US. But when it comes to health, they definitely have the edge on the US, in my opinion. Maybe its because they are more closely related to the old, Medieval ways.
The EU is most definitely worried about obesity invading them as well, they want to stop it now before it reaches over 20% of the population. Wish we were that concerned back when it was 20% in the US.

re: The Fascinating History of Dinner Time

Russ Bianchi — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 17:17:39 GMT

Mediterranean habits, of the largest meal, being mid day, along with a nice siesta or rest period (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.) are also going by the way side in the EU. European optimum health is also declining, as a result of more and more process food and beverage consumption, lack of exercise, and developing bad American health habits in both production and intake.