Early Supper

One point that almost all my family members, friends, and guests agree upon is the benefit of having an early supper.

There are many advantages to this simple habit. Personally, I find it much easier on my tummy when I eat early. I do not feel weighed down for the rest of the evening. I have time to sit around, read a book, jot down a few thoughts, tend to small chores, or simply enjoy a conversation with family and friends.

I have also noticed that remaining active after supper, even if it is just moving around the house or spending time outdoors, seems to help digestion. It is quite different from eating late and heading straight to bed. Even after a hearty meal, I feel more comfortable, sleep more soundly (though people tell me that I snore like a tractor), and wake up feeling fresh the next morning.

Then there are some benefits to others too. The people cooking the meal can also relax early. With an early meal, they are usually full of energy and goodwill which reflects in the food too. With delayed meals, some of them just have to sit around and wait draining their energy, scrolling mindlessly through social media apps.

Many of my guests tell me that their city life does not allow them the luxury of an early supper. Yet, when they stay here, they are more than happy to adopt the habit. Within a few days, they often begin to appreciate the relaxed feel that comes with it.

What I find interesting is that many people seem caught in a cycle of getting up late, staying up late, and consequently taking all their meals late. Breakfast gets pushed back, lunch follows the suit, and supper drifts further into the night. Before long, this pattern feels normal, even though it often leaves little time between the last meal of the day and bedtime. Everyone seems to agree that this is unhealthy but rarely do they try to correct this habit.

Even on the occasional evening when I enjoy a drink or two, I prefer to have it with my meal or afterwards while relaxing. The idea of drinks before a meal is something I have never quite understood, though it seems to be a common urban trend in this country. Interestingly, many people who live closer to nature, both in this region and across much of Europe, tend to enjoy their drinks with food rather than before it. Some even prefer a nice slow drink after a sumptuous supper, something I completely agree with. Maybe I was born in the wrong country!

Whenever this topic of supper time comes up, I am tempted to ask a simple, perhaps slightly naïve, question: why not start the day earlier? After all, an early supper is usually the natural consequence of an early start. Rise with the morning light, enjoy a productive day, and by evening the body is ready to slow down. Supper comes naturally at an earlier hour, and the night becomes a time for rest rather than activity. At least in my case, it gives me time to ease into my ‘zone’ and then fall asleep.

The real benefit of an early supper is actually more than better digestion or better sleep. It is that it encourages a natural rhythm of living, in tune with days and nights. It creates space between eating and sleeping, between the busyness of the day and the quiet of the night. In that space, one often finds a little more comfort, a little more calm and relaxation, and a little more time for oneself.

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