Meal Patterns

American meal patterns over the past four centuries have varied across different regions of the country and have been determined by an individual’s occupation, social class, gender, ethnicity, and personal preferences. Seasons, holidays, and the weekly round of activities also played a part in determining what is eaten when.

All meals, whether served at home or in a restaurant, are structured events. Seating arrangements often reflect status. Rituals, including prayers and other formal components of meals, are often observed. Etiquette rules for eating became commonly accepted, and divergence from these rules reflects badly on the rule breaker. Most dinners follow a typical pattern from savory to sweet. Meals also move from simple salads to more complex foods, the desserts often being the most difficult dish to prepare. Dinners served on special occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, and holidays, often connect the individuals to the wider social fabric.