Food and its role in refining generational relations - Term Paper Example

Apart from the fact that it helps a family to bond, sharing meals also encourages healthy eating, as children are much more likely to enjoy eating fruits and vegetables if they are sharing the meals with their parents (Berman 253). For centuries, it is almost the one thing that has remained constant and should be encouraged, is sharing of meals at the table or gathering together in the kitchen to prepare the food brings the people involved closer (Rost 9). The experience does not only bridge the relationship gap, it is also a fun and creative way to spend time with the loved ones in addition, mothers have always taught their daughters how to prepare meals in addition to buying the right and fresh groceries.

It is always expected that before a girl reaches maturity or is ready for marriage that she will have gained enough experience from her mother or relatives in the subject of food. This time-shared in the kitchen, as they labor to make scrumptious meals for their families helps to strengthen the mother-daughter bond. It is at these moments that they get to share more details of their lives such as what they have been up to during the day or if there is any issue that they want to be assisted in solving.

Parents get to be at par with what is taking place in their children’s lives and also offer solutions or comfort depending on the situation. However, things are slowly changing and it is not only the mother and daughter that are spending time in the kitchen but nowadays, it is common to find that it is the man of the house that does most of the cooking; this does not imply he is being bullied, only that he has a passion for the kitchen. Fathers are now coming out strongly to be a part of the kitchen experience that is slowly turning out to be bonding time for them with the family.

When the whole family is involved in planning meals, it turns to be a ritual cherished in the house, as they can all share their knowledge and learn new things from one another on matters of the food world. This is very much encouraged because it ensures that the children become self-sufficient at an early stage when it comes to preparing food for themselves and others. Furthermore, a girl gets to receive advice from a male perspective as well as compared to only one-sided advice from the mother, this can be cultivated at the time spent in the kitchen, and this goes to the father-son and mother-son relationship as well.

In addition, there is the traditional father or males and sons barbeque bonding time, this is usually known as a man’s chore, they are more than happy to pass the skills to their sons. Then there are the famous Sunday dinners or weekend gatherings for extended family members that serve to bring together families that do not live under the same roof every day. These events are usually planned and slotted for specific dates in a month or year where members of the family come together to prepare and share meals.

It not only helps families stay in touch and monitor each other’s’ progress, it is also the time that families share and pass down information, recipes, stories and many more from one generation to the other. Children get to know their extended family members and learn about their traditions and heritage, information that they might never learn at school. Children get to see firsthand how other people behave as well and learn