Mary Gunderson

Families who dine together thrive together. What’s good for the kids is good for the grown-ups even when the kids aren’t around.  In a recent issue of The Atlantic the writer offers evidence from a world-wide study that students who eat regularly with their parents miss less school. A 2003 study showed that students who eat five to seven meals a week with family are less likely to use drugs, less likely to be ‘highly stressed’ and more likely to perform well in school than teens who eat just two meals a week with family.

A quick trip around Google yielded no studies about the importance of adults eating together.  Yet, one-person households make up more than 25% of American homes. I live in one of those households. I have a hunch that when single people eat more meals with friends, neighbors and/or family and when more of those meals are prepared at home, that person is more likely to be building a strong network of support.

Dinner with Karen on a June evening as observed by Trigger

I’m talking about everyday kind of cooking, not splurging with others at a special restaurant or celebrating holidays. Just the ordinary “I’m-making-a-salad-and-roasting-fish-fillets.-Wanna-come-over-for-supper?” Eating together is quality time, best savored when screens are put to sleep. It’s for looking another in the eyes, listening to conversation, initiating conversation, building connection.

The Salad is Served

I’m talking about everyday kind of cooking, not splurging with others at a special restaurant or celebrating holidays. Just the ordinary “I’m-making-a-salad-and-roasting-fish-fillets.-Wanna-come-over-for-supper?” Eating together is quality time, best savored when screens are put to sleep. It’s for looking another in the eyes, listening to conversation, initiating conversation, building connection.

It’s the little things that sustain us. Dining together is a building block of friendship and mutual caring. I don’t know any demographic segment who doesn’t need a little more of that!

Here’s to good appetites and good meals shared!

I was raised to speak “state fair.” I learned the basics in South Dakota when my parents set my brother and I loose to go on the rides, make spin-art pictures, and eat caramel apples, yes, on a stick. Later, my high school band marched at the fair and the day always ended with the grandstand show. The South Dakota Fair in Huron is just six days. In the 70s, they booked an entertainment act in the grandstand just  two or three nights and featured the rodeo the other evenings. My bandmates and I preferred to see a musical act, that being more special than a rodeo. One year we hit the jackpot. The pop group, The New Vaudeville Band performed, including their hit  single”Winchester Cathedral.” The best part? Somehow, several of us were invited on stage during one of the songs. What can I say about this sole groupie experience? It was thrilling, though I think I recall that we giggled through most of it.

Earlier this year, during a networking event, I met a delightful student studying at the University of Minnesota. He’s kept in touch with me and we had lunch a few weeks ago. Before he returns to France, his Minnesota pals wanted him to experience our state fair. They wanted him to have the experience of all manner of deep-fried food on a stick.

“I’m nervous about it,” he confided.

“There’s more to the State Fair than all that crazy, odd food,” I protested. “There’s even food that isn’t extreme, say the pork chop-on-a-stick, watermelon slices, fruit sorbet, Middle Eastern mint lemonade.”

He returned a doubtful half smile. I couldn’t stop. “Then there’s Creative Activities, the 4-H building, the Art Show, and the ikebana and dahlias in the Horticulture Building where Crop Art is housed.

I walked the fair today with my friend Malinda, our annual outing. I thought of that young Frenchman discovering our State Fair, as we hit our own highlights. We tasted one of the new-this-year foods: hot dish on a stick. Not a winner. However, the slow-roasted split pork shanks were delicious. They go by the name of “Porketta Pork Wings.” Malinda loved the very minty lemonade from the Holy Land deli. I enjoyed the vanilla, non-dairy frozen dessert at the Dole booth.

We strolled by the usual places. It was a lovely day, first with a cool breeze in many days. 

I have re-affirmed for myself.

1. The fair always evokes fond memories of fairs past.

2. I love the Minnesota State Fair.

3. Crop Art never disappoints.

*All images in this post are Minnesota State Fair Crop Art, 2013