mealtime prayers

Giving thanks beforehand

Mealtime prayers are brief expressions of gratitude spoken before eating, giving thanks for food and those who prepared it.

Common in religious households, they range from memorized formulas like grace or blessing the food to spontaneous words.

The practice appears across faiths: We always said mealtime prayers growing up.

Also called saying grace or blessing the meal.

Opposites
communication mode

mealtime prayerssilent reflection

Quiet, internal contemplation

eating alone

attitude toward food

mealtime prayersmindless eating

Unconscious food consumption

inhaling food · instant gratification

Family

meal, time, meals, times, timed, timer, timely, untimely, mealtime

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G