Have you had Your Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner?
This is the most common question that you will have asked to you on a daily basis in India. Well, I know the standard tourist questions also apply, but this one is the best question. It represents kindness, caring, concern, and considering one’s health and well-being.
I remember sitting with the Dentist and the assistant and I told them I skipped breakfast and lunch. They were so concerned looking at me and saying, “Why? You must be hungry. You should have had something this morning. ”
I was thinking about the beauty behind these questions.
“Have you had your breakfast, Have you had your lunch, have you had your dinner?”
India is a developing nation and becoming a global superpower with incredible changes from year to year and even month to month.
Although, Indian’s hunger statistics are still around 15 percent leaving millions with insufficient diets and malnourishment. Has Indian society become accustomed to asking about your food because they want to make sure you have a full stomach? Do they think about how many people in their country are going to sleep with an empty stomache and have not had breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Are Indians checking to see if you are feeling hungry and would like to fill your stomach and eat something?
It is really beautiful this simple question and how they respond with your answer.”
“ Yes, I have.”
“ Ok good.”
“No, I have not.”
“Should I make something, Should we stop for food, Are you hungry? What can I get for you? What did you eat today?”
They always emphasize the importance of eating if I say I skipped a meal and this question made me feel cared about as a human being. It felt good that someone actually cared about my hierarchy of physiological needs being met, my food intake, and my overall health.
While this might just be a standard question that comes naturally for most Indians, it still was very kind and sweet each and every time.
It has become a custom or habit for me to not ask people for things or inconvenience them in anyway. If I am hungry, I will just say, “I’m fine, I will eat later, I had something I’m good.”
I remember times where a friend had something delivered because I said, “I was hungry.” Often I will insist, “I am fine, Don’t worry. No problem.” But they still will offer me food and they know that this food makes me feel joy. They are content knowing my stomache is FULL.
The beauty of filling the stomach and not letting someone go hungry- that is the beauty of India.
The sweetest analogy I can think of… and even when Indians have little food or little money- a real Indian will always share food with you and never eat in front of you without asking or inviting you to have something.
If there is an Indian eating in front of you and not offering you food- they are not real, authentic, caring Indians. They care about themselves and are just living in India, but do not know their culture. Being selfish with food is a strong part of American culture not India.
To all the Indians all over the country who shared a meal with me when they knew I was hungry.
To all the Indians who helped make my stomach full when I had a long day or just arrived to a new city or off a bus, train, or plane
To all the Indians who took time, effort, and love to cook special food just for me
To all the Indians who asked me, “Have you had your breakfast, Have you had your lunch, Have you had your dinner in a loving, caring and genuine way
GOD BLESS YOU. I LOVE YOU. NAMASTE
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