When asked to define a “meal” I thought it would be simple. However, I was wrong. I began to think back when I was trying to lose weight and an apple would be my meal for lunch and for dinner it would be a bowl of rice and some celery. I initially wrote down, that a meal can be any type of food eaten at any time of day. Yet, after hearing Cleo’s definition of a meal, I began to reflect on my definition. Asking myself is an apple really a meal or did I convince myself it was? I realized I was eating to survive, so I could workout and function, not for enjoyment. When talking to Cleo, her definition was that a meal was something purposeful, the opposite of what I thought a meal was. She explained how a meal was just not an apple or a smoothie you drink really fast. A meal took thought and effort whether it was made by yourself or not. So I would now say I agree with her definition.  I would say a meal is eaten three times throughout the day–breakfast, lunch and dinner. However many of us only have time for one meal a day if that. Today, I only had time for dinner. I ate breakfast and lunch, some oatmeal and a banana, but I would not consider them a meal. I had salmon, brown rice, and stir fried vegetables for dinner that I made myself. It was purposeful, took time and effort, and something I looked forward to eating all day. With each bite I could feel the dopamine being released in my brain– I was no longer “hangry.” I now realize that a meal is something that creates happiness and brings friends and family closer together