I may sound like an ungrateful brat who doesn’t know how to appreciate all that inventors are doing for this world, making it possible for upscale technological advancements to take charge of our lives and simplify them, but I for one don’t fail to notice the possible damage of this tech domination. Becoming so dependent on our electronics, we don’t realise we are on the verge of alienating ourselves from our loved ones, our friends, acquaintances and humanity. Lately, the busyness has even meddled with food, and I’m not just talking about fast food and all the unhealthy processed options, but also about the manner of eating.
While in the past the whole family gathered around the dining table, saying their prayers and appreciating the meals, nowadays modern families barely make time enough to get together and have meals at the same time. Though it might not seem a big deal, family dining is important in maintaining the connections, influencing the overall development of children. A family that eats together sticks together. Just think, even the decorating process of a dining room, looking through what the different furniture shops offer, choosing the table, dining room chairs, cabinets, lighting, can be family shopping, another chance for bonding.
A dining room, no matter how small or big, serves as the place that turns eating into a ritual where one is mindful of what goes in the body and not just eat in order to satisfy hunger. That’s why dining room chairs are also designed to be comfortable, to help you fully enjoy the eating experience. No one said a dining room chair shouldn’t be viewed as comfortable.
People of today, who can’t seem to wait to drift as far away from traditions as possible – be it because of need of change or because of everyday busyness, slowly introduce three course meals to the living room couch and TV combination. They say they don’t mind it, and I can see where that comes from. Eliminating the dining room from the picture means you could free up the dining room space and save on money that you’d otherwise spend furnishing it. You sit and eat while finally having the time to catch up on your favourite show or soap opera, and by eating in your lap you skip using more plates, serving platters, so you save yourself the time of dishwashing as well. Besides, kids just love this laid back option, so everyone’s happy. And yet, there is science proving eating while watching TV affects our calorie intake for the worse because we’re not attentive to the amount of food we need to get full so we end up eating more. It’s also one step away from making way for obesity.
Taking all the pros and cons of both options, I’m going to stick to my traditional choice and eat mindfully at my dining table. And you, dear reader, are you a traditional or modern eater?