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National Meal Appreciation Day

Published: February 15, 2007

Although this is a widely celebrated holiday, it is usually celebrated in secret by parents (usually women, but not exclusively women) who just need to remember what it's like to sit down and eat a plate of food uninterrupted. I think the first celebration of this holiday was in the late 1400s. It coincided with the invention of the first golf club (go figure).

I hope I don’t get into trouble for spilling the beans, but I’m coming out of the closet to tell you how I celebrate the very widely celebrated yet secretive holiday.

Usually, in preparation, I make sure the house is clean. It’s hard to celebrate this holiday in the midst of toys and clutter. Secondly, I make sure I have all of the necessary ingredients for the meal of choice. Did I forget to mention that National Meal Appreciation Day usually only applies to one meal? Since the holiday’s inception, it has been very rare for celebrants to figure out how to get enough time to appreciate two meals in one day. We’re thankful for the one. (Please don’t confuse this holiday with Thanksgiving which should really be re-named “National Over Consumption, Eat Like a Piggy Day.)

The key factor to this holiday is making sure that my children and husband are adequately occupied (He’s out golfing and the kiddies at a scheduled sleepover at a friend's house). Remember to find something and someplace for the dog too. It’s hard to enjoy a good meal with an extra pair of begging eyes staring at you.

Once they’re all gone, I pull out my ingredients and start preparing my meal. While preparing the meal, I set the table with my ‘fine china’ (this means I don’t use paper plates). I set the candle and pull out an actual wine glass with a stem. The music is playing softly in the background and the fragrance of the fresh flowers is wafting gently.

This year I’ve prepared homemade lentil soup which is followed by an entrée of Shrimp Frances over spaghetti squash. To complement this meal I pour a cool crisp glass of Pinot Grigio which is ever so respectfully illuminated by the gentle glow of the candle.

For dessert, I arrange sliced organic bananas in my favorite dessert bowl topped with whipped cream, sprinkles of chopped pistachios and carob chips (my substitute for chocolate chips).

Ahh. I sit down in anticipation of an enjoyable relaxing delicious meal when the phone rings. My daughter is missing me and wants to come home. My son left his favorite video game on his bed and needs it right now and my husband’s partner never showed up to play golf so they’re all coming home. Oh, and the dog…well he just upchucked because he was nibbling on Barbie’s remote control Jeep.

Oh well. There’s always next year!

That's my two cents and I'm sticking with it!

About the Author: I am Felicia A. Williams, a wife, mom, grandma, writer and eternal student.

Last Modified: 1 December 2020