Breakfast, lunch and dinner: Have we always eaten them?

[Gerald]

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/9034/64136309neonthinkstock.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/839/64136309neonthinkstock.jpg/)

British people - and many others across the world - have been brought up on the idea of three square meals a day as a normal eating pattern, but it wasn't always that way.

People are repeatedly told the hallowed family dinner around a table is in decline and the UK is not the only country experiencing such change.

The case for breakfast, missed by many with deleterious effects, is that it makes us more alert, helps keep us trim and improves children's work and behaviour at school.

But when people worry that breaking with the traditional three meals a day is harmful, are they right about the traditional part? Have people always eaten in that pattern?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20243692


Note: 15 November 2012 Last updated at 00:33 GMT

[Fubar2Niner]

As far back as I can remember I don't think I've ever had three squares a day :hmmm:

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

[Gerald]

When I was younger, it could be changed to a liquid meal, :O:

[Karle94]

I usually eat lunch and dinner. One big unhealthy lunch, and one enormous unhealthy dinner a day. When I was in Russia with my classmates in 2009, I got six meals a day. I litterally had to shove food beyond my capacity to not offend my hosts. I lost 4 pounds in four days.

[BossMark]

Breakfast
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01831/breakfast_1831423c.jpg
lunch
http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0033/5422/t/1/assets/pint.png?2
Dinner I suppose it depends on how much of the above I have drunk, dinner sometimes changes in to supper and in that case it usually is
http://0.tqn.com/d/britishfood/1/7/t/8/-/-/fishandchips500.jpg

[Stealhead]

I usually only eat one "square" meal a day usually diner.I do find that I have to have something to eat right when I get up.Of course I have never been a "pile on the food and cover the plate" type of eater.

Side note: the term "square" comes from the square wooden plates that where used by the Royal Navy and the typical sailor his class in the old day did not get "three square meals a day" in other parts of society so for a lower class man or boy the Royal Navy was good digs and ion many cases the best job to be had.


I pretty much only eat one large meal a day the rest of the way I eat more of a snack.

I usually eat a egg sunny side up between two pieces of toast for breakfast and that will usually last me until noon or better.Then I usually eat one thing for lunch usually a sandwich I made at home nothing huge.The large square meal for me is dinner.I have an active on the feet job mind you no sitting at a desk for me.

Everyone has a different metabolism so what is best for each person is different.In the military some people used to think I did not eat enough and joke with me but I have never been underweight nor have I ever felt low in energy in fact some of those guys who ate huge meals 3 times a day they where the ones looking tired at the end of the day.

[Gerald]

Better to split meals than a single, sometimes in conjunction with a go-around in the job obviously can not be eaten regularly, you have to be flexible.

[Jimbuna]

Breakfast
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01831/breakfast_1831423c.jpg
lunch
http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0033/5422/t/1/assets/pint.png?2
Dinner I suppose it depends on how much of the above I have drunk, dinner sometimes changes in to supper and in that case it usually is
http://0.tqn.com/d/britishfood/1/7/t/8/-/-/fishandchips500.jpg

Best copy and paste on this 'minor' subject :cool:

[Stealhead]

I never got why you Brits have the beans for breakfast.:hmmm:

I stayed at this small hotel in London once and they served traditional breakfast.Some guy started asking the server if the beans where pork and beans or veggie beans which the server did not understand her being Italian.

So she goes into the kitchen and grabs the can and shows the man can the beans came in... Pork and Beans!:har: The guy got so upset because he had already eaten the beans on his plate.I though it was pretty damn funny.

[Jimbuna]

I never got why you Brits have the beans for breakfast.:hmmm:

I stayed at this small hotel in London once and they served traditional breakfast.Some guy started asking the server if the beans where pork and beans or veggie beans which the server did not understand her being Italian.

So she goes into the kitchen and grabs the can and shows the man can the beans came in... Pork and Beans!:har: The guy got so upset because he had already eaten the beans on his plate.I though it was pretty damn funny.

Agreed....just eat the damn beans!! :)

[Stealhead]

What made the entire scene so funny was that the man had eaten the pork and beans and seemed to have enjoyed them and the concept that he may have violated his vegetarianism did not occur until after he had eaten them.

It was a very Monty Python moment from my vantage point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE

[Gerald]

^Classical :)

[Takeda Shingen]

I do eat a proper breakfast and dinner, but usually a light lunch. I feel a heavier meal at midday makes me a little sluggish.

[Jimbuna]

I do eat a proper breakfast and dinner, but usually a light lunch. I feel a heavier meal at midday makes me a little sluggish.

I've no idea what you mean :hmmm:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/3625515550_101fbdae3d.jpg

:03:

[Gerald]

^No one can blame him from a have huge boat :O:

[GoldenRivet]

Grade school is pretty much the only time in my life I remember three squares.

I'd get up and get ready for school, my mother would have eggs and toast or perhaps cinnamon buns ready long before the bus came.

Lunch was either school cafeteria, or whatever was packed away in my he-man lunch box.

I'd get home and do homework and watch tv and we would have dinner as a family or go out.

As that little kid part of my life gave way to teen years it was decided that 20 more minutes of sleep was better than breakfast, a quick snickers bar was an ok lunch while buried in school work, and a 2500 calorie dinner would get me where I needed to be nutritionally because most if that would burn off playing football or basketball outside before sunset.

As a bachelor with a demanding job... If I can't nuke it in 3 minutes or less I just don't have the time to spare on eating it.

[Gerald]

^In other words .... you may go hungry a little longer.

[Jimbuna]

Or butt even.

[Platapus]

I tend to being a grazer. If done right it can be a good way to manage weight. Unfortunately, the way I do it, it is not as good. :oops: