Why Do We Say a “Square Meal”?
When you were young, you were likely taught about the importance of eating three square meals a day. But you probably never learned why it’s called a “square meal.” This phrase has little to do with the shape of the food or the platter on which it’s served; rather, it
relates to the meaning of “square” when it’s an adjective, not a noun. It describes something as being “equal” or “balanced.” First, we’d be remiss if we didn’t dispel a common myth. An oft-perpetuated theory is that “square meal” comes from the square wooden platters food was served on in...
