Weightless snacks float into the mouth of a NASA astronaut and commander.

Earth and Space

When is Dinner?

Mealtimes on Earth are often special times. When families or friends gather together to share a meal, they are able to relax, have fun, and share stories about life. Your family might share a holiday dinner, or you might meet your friends in the school cafeteria for lunch. Meals are a great way to connect with each other. Here’s what Michael Lopez-Alegria writes about mealtimes in space.

From the Journal of Michael Lopez-Alegria

“We usually pause for about one hour midday to have our meal together and almost always have dinner together. Meals are our primary social time.

One truly bright spot in our menu is food that is sent up from our families or friends in ‘bonus’ containers or care packages—it’s just as you might see it in the store.”