ABSTRACT
This chapter compares the evolution of food culture from 1997 to 2021 in four Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway), drawing data from academic papers and studies (Holm et al., 2012, Holm et al., 2016, Boston Consulting Group, 2021). Similarities and differences in eating routines and commensality practices are explored within the framework of an “eating system” (Mäkelä et al., 1999), a concept that encompasses eating patterns, the format of meals, and the social context of eating.
This chapter explores the changes that have taken place over a 24-year period and shows how increased internet connectivity, individualism, and flexible working patterns have modified and homogenised Nordic eating customs.
Although the majority of meals still take place at home, there is an increasing trend of eating alone and shorter meals (lasting less than 10 minutes), especially in Denmark and Norway. The decrease in the formality of meals has allowed for the inclusion of other activities while people eat, such as watching television, listening to the radio, reading, or using electronic devices. A de-structuring of gender roles when it comes to meal preparation has also been observed, as more men across all age groups, education levels, and income levels have begun to take charge of planning and cooking meals.
One of the most remarkable aspects is that the boundaries between eating together and eating alone have become increasingly blurred (Mäkelä, 2009). Looking into the practice of solo dining (i.e., eating alone in restaurants) in Finland as a case study, this chapter discusses whether the practice may be understood as a modern form of commensality or as a transitory trend.
