East Asian Families and the Dining Table

Humans consume food in the distinct ways of cooking with fire and eating in a communal setting. Among animals, we have examples of parent birds feeding their chicks, and carnivorous mammals dividing up prey that was hunted in packs. However, fully-grown animals have the ability to find food and feed independently. And in general, animals eat their food individually. In contrast, humans share and distribute food to be consumed as a meal and also take their meals together in a communal setting. In most societies, the family serves as the basic unit for daily communal meals.