Reflection: Snatched Commensality: To eat or not to eat together in times of Covid-19 in France

During the Covid-19 pandemic, French Government imposed a strict lockdown from March 17th to May 11th 2020. These extraordinary times challenged social norm of commensality, practice that is particularly strong and engrained in France. How has impacted meal-sharing habits? have rules norms commensality withstood weakening bonds caused by lockdown? Based on qualitative study 20 socially diverse households, this essay proposes typology adaptive commensal eating patterns: 1) Eating together can provide reassurance reproducing ordinary routines or enacting food traditions; 2) Tinkering with leads creative new forms an ersatz commensality; 3) Sharing every meal same people trigger rejection practices. patterns may also represent possible phases experience lockdown, since some individuals shifted one pattern another. The final part paper discusses very nature link highlighted through lens commensality.