After thinking about this question in my food studies class, I’ve realized that what a meal is and what it entails can be summarized into three words: a social construct. From the amount of food you eat to the time of day it is consumed, everything depends on where you grew up or what you believe in. For example, in America, a chocolate croissant could be eaten for breakfast whereas in France, a chocolate croissant is considered to be a mid-afternoon snack. So if I had to come up with my own definition, I would say a meal is a combination of food that a person eats at a certain time of day. It doesn’t matter if you’re alone or with friends or if you’re eating at home or going out. As long as you’re taking time out of your day to enjoy some food, then it counts as a meal. What you eat, however, is totally up to you. As a vegan, my meals consist of fruits, vegetables, legumes, tubers, and whole grains. However, there is one condition that comes with my definition. If you’re eating an apple by itself, I would say you’re actually eating a snack. But if you were eating a salad with apples, cucumbers, and tomatoes, then that would count as a meal. Why? Because when I think of a meal, I always picture a variety of food rather than just one single item. But that’s just my own personal opinion. ♦