Most cultures in the world eat about every six hours with three main meals that correspond to breakfast, lunch and dinner – varying in how abudant each meal is. This customary habit was created initially as a response to our body’s need for proper continuous nutritional intake, a fundamental part of our metabolism’s function that allows us to carry out daily activities. But the three-meals-a-day phenomenon is also based on a social construct that is well-rooted in our culture. So let’s see how the habit of the three meals truly started and how it has changed over time.
The history of three meals a day
Going back through the history of food, we know that breakfast has been an absent meal for most. In ancient times, people usually ate one daily meal that was considered unique and abundant to any other time for eating. For example, the ancient Romans consumed only one meal around midday, considering it a healthy choice and the only one able to guarantee good digestion. The ancient Greeks, on the other hand, seem to have anticipated the future trend of three daily meals; they were the first to introduce the new concept of ‘breakfast.’ In fact, many of the ancient Greeks used to eat bread soaked in wine as soon as they woke up, probably a custom born from the need to soften stale bread. Then the day wore on and a frugal lunch would follow then a heartier meal later in the evening. Beyond the ancient Greeks, however, the ‘morning meal’ was not even contemplated for centuries. In the Middle Ages, for example, people were not allowed to eat before morning mass and dinner was the main meal. Although initially the concept of ‘breakfast’ was exclusive to the aristocratic class, the first meal of the day as we understand it now would not make its first real appearance until the 17th century, when the first breakfast rooms were also designed. During the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, however, with its normalization of working hours, the habit of having both breakfast and lunch developed – as a pre-working meal plus a break at half-day, leading to current habit of three daily meals. At that time, the first "street food" spots near factories started up and mass-produced food became more common. Needless to say, in times of poverty and post-war times, rations were limited and so was the possibility of eating three meals. The definitive consecration of breakfast, lunch and dinner as eating habits and social rituals that were ultimately most favored in the 1950s, with the introduction of cereal and the invention of the toaster in the USA – sliced bread and instant coffee. Following the American model, the belief that breakfast was the main daily meal also started to spread in Europe.
Evolution of the custom to present day
Over the centuries, there have been many factors (from economic to religious), that have basically conditioned us to eat three meals a day – and there have also been many studies that have denied the importance of one meal rather over the other or studies that even propose alternative dietary models altogether. In more recent times, though, factors such as technology, trends, globalization and, of course, the growing development of the ‘fast food,’ ‘take away’ and ‘junk food,’ have led us to conditioning ourselves to a different pace of life with a different kind of diet. So these days, with the evident change in routine of most countries, Millennials are increasingly breaking the paradigm of the three-meals-a-day concept, fasting more and more with different eating timetables.
FAQs
In one sense, it all comes down to math: The average adult human requires 2,000 calories per day, and you're only awake for so many hours. "Across all peer-reviewed research and health practices, three meals a day is a general recommendation to encourage consistent, adequate energy intake," Miluk said.
Why are three meals a day standard? ›
In America and other industrialized nations, the standard of three meals per day is the norm. Eating three structured meals per day compared with fewer meals appears to help with controlling appetite and increase feelings of fullness.
How did we get to 3 meals a day? ›
The three meals per day concept originated with Englanders who achieved financial prosperity. European settlers brought their eating habits with them to America. Unfortunately, practicing antiquated, meal etiquette often causes you to consume calories when you're not hungry.
What happens if you don't eat 3 times a day? ›
Skipping meals: Causes the body to lower its metabolism (how much energy it needs to function) Causes us to burn less energy (fewer calories) Can lead us to gain weight when we eat our usual amount of food Leaves us with little energy because the body has run out of the fuel we get from food Leaves us sluggish and ...
When did humans start eating three times a day? ›
It was in the 17th Century that the working lunch started, where men with aspirations would network. The middle and lower classes eating patterns were also defined by their working hours. By the late 18th Century most people were eating three meals a day in towns and cities, says Day.
How many times a day did ancient humans eat? ›
That's because fasting actually changes how your body gets its energy. Looking back through history, breakfast was not a common meal for most people. Our ancestors typically ate one substantial meal each day, supplemented with nuts and fruits as snacks.
How many meals did Romans eat a day? ›
Typically, the Romans ate three meals a day. Originally, the Romans had a small breakfast called the ientaculum in the morning and then a huge meal called the cena around two in the afternoon, then another small meal called the vesperna later on in the night.
Can you survive on one meal a day? ›
Safety Concerns. For most people, there are no serious dangers involved in eating one meal a day, other than the discomforts of feeling hungry. That said, there are some risks for people with cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Eating one meal a day can increase your blood pressure and cholesterol.
How many meals a day are healthiest? ›
It is widely accepted in modern culture that people should divide their daily diet into three large meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — for optimal health.
Is it a myth that we eat 3 meals a day? ›
It doesn't increase the number of calories burned or help you lose weight. Eating more often also doesn't improve blood sugar control. If anything, eating fewer meals is healthier. It seems quite clear that the myth of frequent, small meals is just that — a myth.
Most cultures in the world eat about every six hours with three main meals that correspond to breakfast, lunch and dinner – varying in how abudant each meal is.
Why is supper called supper? ›
Supper stems from the word "sup," and it's also related to the German word for soup ("suppe"). According to the English Language & Usage Stack Exchange, families would put on a pot of soup to simmer throughout the day and eat it later in the evening, which was also known as "supping" the hot soup.
Will you look skinnier if you don't eat? ›
Eating less or skipping meals may make you lose some water weight during the initial days, but most of the weight lost while not eating or eating less comes from burning muscles, not body fat! Here are some potential health risks that arise from starving yourself.
What happens if you don't eat for 2 days but drink water? ›
After two or three days without food, your body starts to break down fatty tissue. Your muscles use the fatty acids created during this process as their main source of fuel. Fatty acids are also used to form ketones in the liver. Ketones are another substance the body can use for energy.
Is it better to eat little and often or big meals? ›
Many people eat three nutritious meals a day and have no trouble maintaining their weight. But studies have suggested that grazing (eating smaller amounts of food more frequently) can make it easier to maintain or lose weight. Eating four to six small meals each day can take the edge off your appetite.
How often do humans really need to eat? ›
Deciding how often to eat is largely rooted in individual preference; there is no one right way. Experts suggest aiming for at least three meals a day and then listening to your body's hunger cues from there. While meal timing is an important consideration, the quality and quantity of food you eat matters the most.
Is it better to eat once or three times a day? ›
So, the science seems to say the healthiest way to eat throughout the day is to have two or three meals, with a long fasting window overnight, to not eat too early or too late in the day, and to consume more calories earlier on in the day.
Are humans designed to eat every day? ›
Our bodies can go without food for several hours, for several days, and even longer because our bodies are developed to store fat. In other words, human bodies are equipped to encounter periods of fasting. Humans evolved to be in sync with the day/night cycle, or a circadian rhythm.
.jpg "Why Do We Eat Three Times a Day? (1)")
