Family dinner was once considered to be one of the most treasured moments of the day. It was the only time where everyone sat together and interacted with one another while eating a home-cooked meal, rambling about how their days went. This daily ritual served as the foundational glue that strengthened the family dynamic and kept everyone together. However, the normalization of fast food consumption has ultimately shattered this tradition and has instead introduced a wave of antisocial behavior that has plagued many domestic relationships. Gathering around the kitchen table to have open discussion has begun to wane, and the social connections that contributed to the stability of several familial relationships have begun to suffer in spite of it.
Juxtaposing the situational components of home-cooked family dinner and fast-food takeout might seem like an overanalyzation, but it is important to consider how these different styles of eating play heavily impactful roles in family interactions. Every aspect of home-cooking is, in fact, an experience. From bugging mom while she’s baking an entire pan of seasoned chicken and collard greens to asking dad for a new video game while he’s relaxing at the kitchen table reading a newspaper, every particular facet of family dinner is a sentimental experience that places a heavy emphasis on social interaction. These elements create memories that are soon cherished and reminisced upon, establishing deep emotional bonds and connections amongst family. Many of these experiences cannot be replicated as time causes a major shift in these dynamics through maturation and independence, making every moment more and more special.
However, fast food takes away the sentiment behind these traditions. It is often regarded as a cheap and low effort style of dining, losing the essence of social interaction in the process and replacing it with convenience. Many of the youth today greet their parents with a simple “Hey!” before grabbing a bag of takeout food and taking it up to their room as they doomscroll through their social media applications. This unhealthy tradition contributes to the downward spiral of many domestic relationships on a social level as members of the family rely on digital media as sources of entertainment rather than engaging in social interaction with one another. The ongoing reliance on social media has replaced the unique experience that family dinner has offered over the years, not only stunting the social growth of the individuals within the household but also stunting the dynamic amongst the household itself.
While fast food offers more convenient methods of food consumption that compensate for fatigue and tiredness, it strips an essential part of the home that keeps the family together…communication. Fast food promotes social isolation and has negatively influenced familial relationships by taking away the key moments that bring the household together and stunting the memories that allow members of the family to reminisce on older times.
