Meal

Instance of eating

 * A meal is an instance of eating, specifically one that takes place at a specific time and includes specific, prepared food.Lasagna_Small.jpg
 * A meal is composed of food. Food can be treated as a code, the message that is found in the pattern can express social relations.
 * Meals occur primarily at homes, restaurants, and cafeterias, but may occur anywhere . Regular meals occur on a daily basis, typically several times a day. Special meals are usually held in conjunction with such occasions as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and holidays.
 * A meal is different from a snack in that meals are larger and more filling, while snacks are more likely to be small, high-calorie affairs; however, any food eaten in small amounts at an unscheduled time can be classified as a snack.
 * A picnic is an outdoor meal where one brings one's food, such as a sandwich or a prepared meal in a picnic basket. It often takes place in a natural or recreative area, such as a park, forest, or beach. On long drives a picnic may take place at a road-side stop such as a rest area.
 * A banquet is a large, often formal, and elaborate meal with many guests and dishes.

Ground form of food

 * Meal can also refer to the ground form of various foods, notably grains and nuts. Ground corn is known as cornmeal, for example.