The French Evening Meal: Eating Habits Remain Synchronised

Abstract

The Time-use surveys carried out by Insee in 1986 and 1998 allow us to examine the importance given to the evening meal by the French and how it fits in with other evening activities. The survey found that the evening meal, listed as the main evening activity by the majority of those surveyed, takes place at more or less the same time across France : there is a strong synchronisation of eating habits. There was little change in the behaviour of the French between 1986 and 1998 with regard to the organisation of evening activities and the importance given to the evening meal. Contrary to the argument that the traditional meal structure is breaking down, this study highlights the stability of the evening meal and the importance of meal times in contemporary France.Eating Habits, Time Use, Optimal Matching Analysis