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I’m researching the eating habits of the 1820’s. It’s easy to find massive amounts of information on breakfasts and social dinners, but lunch seems to be the ignored meal, and I think I’m figuring out why. It’s because lunch is for ladies! Its purpose is to provide a light meal. Heh…here’s a description of this “light” meal:
London persons breakfast at nine, ten, eleven, and even twelve o’clock and dine at eight or nine. Between these meals comes the luncheon composed generally of cold meats such as pates, fowls, pheasants, partridges, ham, beef, veal, brawn, and generally whatever is left fit to be introduced, part of which is to be placed on a side table. On the table is to be served a little hashed fowl and some mutton cutlets broiled plainly with mashed potatoes. The repast itself is insignificant…
Insignificant? LOL! I love it…
But, you see, real men don’t eat lunch! The true purpose of lunch is to give the ladies something to eat so that they’re not so hungry at dinner they make piggies of themselves:
[Luncheon] is only taken by certain young ladies who wish to preserve the elegance of their figures, the beauty of their complexions, and above all the becoming manners of good society which interdict as vulgar eating at table like gluttons. For unless frequent meals are taken too much must be eaten at once.
So there you go. Lunch was invented so ladies could pretend to eat like birds and hence carry forth the image of being elegant and beautiful (basically, so that nobody would see them truly eat with a healthy appetite…).
Sigh.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:48 pm · Link
Fascinating. It seems that everything in that era came about in order to present the idea of good breeding and the like in society.
September 1st, 2009 at 4:12 pm · Link
LOL – reminded me of Scarlett O’Hara. She wasn’t supposed to eat the barbecue like a field hand. 🙂
September 1st, 2009 at 9:03 pm · Link
Hmm very interesting. I think we would all be better off eating several small meal a day but I don’t do this.
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:41 pm · Link
Never considered a light lunch but after reading what you found out I now can put things together. I always had a sandwich or soup when lunch came along..raised to do this. Now I prefer cottage cheese/fruit and on a piece of lettcue or tuna salad on crackers. Old habits still carried out I guess. susan L
September 4th, 2009 at 1:40 am · Link
I think you’re right, Catherine. So much importance was placed on that “image” of good breeding. Now, I suppose we have different ideals, don’t we? Although even now, I never like eating a lot unless I am with people I know really really well–and I’ve been that way ever since I can remember. So maybe I had some of that “taught” to me as well.
Vicky, oh, that’s so true! Scarlett, I think, actually had quite a lot in common with our Regency heroines…
You’re right, Quilt Lady and Susan. There’s something to be said for “grazing.” (Although I do it and still seem to enjoy my big meals, anyway! Sigh!)