“Square meal” is a slang term from 1800s America that refers to a filling, satisfying, and nutritionally balanced meal. It originated from the meaning of “square” as “honest” or “proper.” The contents of a square meal have evolved over time, but generally include vegetables, lean protein, and whole grain starch. Access to a square meal is easier in developed countries, but can be a challenge in developing countries.
The term “square meal” is a piece of slang that dates back to 1800s America. It refers to a large, filling meal that is filling, satisfying, and usually tasty too. It is also usually implied that a square meal is nutritionally balanced and healthy, though not always. Since balanced meals are generally considered vital to human health and happiness, it’s not uncommon to hear terms like “it looks like it needs a square meal.”
The origins of slang terms can often be fascinating to trace, not least because they’re generally clouded by folk etymology and general craziness. Many popular etymologies for the phrase suggest that it is somehow related to square plates, when in fact it is not. In this case, the meal is “square” in the sense of “honest” or “proper,” a usage that dates back to at least the 1600s. This puts square meals in the same family as square and “fair and square” affairs.
The first written example of a “square meal” appears to have emerged in the mid-1800s, to advertise a Gold Rush-era restaurant in the American West. The author of the ad actually clarified the term, specifying that it meant a healthy and balanced meal, which suggests that the slang term may not have been used colloquially and that the author may actually have invented it. Since then, the term has spread to other regions of the United States and other English-speaking nations as well, although it continues to be closely associated with Western culture.
The contents of a square meal are open to debate. Nutritional guidelines and standards have certainly evolved from the days when “pork and beans, onions, cabbage and other items,” in the words of a 19th-century advertiser, were considered a square meal. A square meal is generally assumed to have a healthy serving of vegetables, paired with a lean protein and whole grain starch, and ideally flavored with something interesting as well. Most nutritional guidelines also recommend low-fat and heavily processed foods in a balanced diet.
Getting a square meal is of particular concern for developing children and athletes, as their nutritional needs are more demanding than the average population. Fortunately, in most developed countries, access to food supplies is relatively easy, enabling people to eat well on a regular basis. Unfortunately for some people in developing countries, a square meal is a more challenging proposition.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
