Food is a basic human need. Most people need to eat multiple times throughout the day. Most of those meal times involves some sort of food preparation, which will vary depending on the person's geographic location. Preparation can entail physically gathering or measuring food, or traditions such as ringing a dinner bell to signal the beginning of a meal. Many of these preparatory practices were predominanatly completed by women, but some involved both genders. The significance of preparing for a meal extends beyond nutrition and keeping our bodies functioning. At its core, preparing for a meal is about preparing to bring people together: it taps into the basic human need of social sustenance.

Things to think about:
Who prepared your most recent meal?
The last time you prepared a meal, what did you do? Were you with anyone?