COMMENTS:
Voted : Yes, it's spiritual.
I forgot to say that when I eat alone for extended periods of time; I start to sense in myself that I'm becoming more selfish. This is a negative quality which I don't always like; but, see in "contra." I enjoy eating with people, one of the most joyous times in my life was when I got to eat with the homeless people at the local shelter. I was a volunteer server for a period, and will definitely go back to that when my schedule permits.
^besides that, the food was, as we say, "grubbin'"
Voted : Yes, it's spiritual.
Breaking bread with friends and loved ones is...special...
Voted : Hmm... I never thought of it this way... may be
I just eat because I'm hungry. Maybe I'm too practical? Probably.
okay, now I'm going to take this to a different plane, look for a different ballot on the same topic... coming soon
Voted : Hmm... I never thought of it this way... may be
I almost always eat a whole meal with company--at home or at work. I guess I would not like it alone. This is something to for me think about. I don't know if it is spiritual, but I certainly think it is a socially bonding thing.
Voted : other, see comment
I don't look at it so much as "spiritual", but more so as a way of bonding or fellowship. Which could be one of the reasons why so many religious rituals and traditions involve meals.
Here in the deep south, you can't do so much as vomit without huge meals involved. Someone can die, lose their job, take ill, move to a new house, get married, any major life change, etc... and you can expect someone to come knocking with a covered dish in hand. Namely because nobody usually wants to cook or are able to cook in those circumstances. It's more of a hospitality thing though in those cases.
Grumpy,
I would posture that social bonding is a form of spirituality in itself. And I have roots from the Deep South, so I know what you're talking about. Practicing Random Acts of Kindness?
Yes, it can be. However, it is often the actions taken and the choice of food that can make one more focused on the spiritual aspect.
Voted : Yes, it's spiritual.
But, for me, it depends on the companionship. For me, family is rarely it. Immediate family, *never*. All of my aunts, a few of my uncles, five cousins would qualify. Five users here in this post, definitely.
I recommend "The Primal Feast: Food, Sex, Foraging, and Love" by Susan Allport - some interesting insights into humans and food.
One item of interest was that humans are the only animal to share their food with any other than the closest of kin (as in offspring or a mate - and most animals don't even do that - except perhaps their very young offspring). As for sharing a meal with "others", let alone strangers.... it is a uniquely human thing.
Concerning this ballot 117348 and 117349 I have a more practical view. We are given only so much time to live on this earth, and the things we must do to survive become very important, for it is part of who we are. When we share those moments with other people, we share our humanity with them. That, to me, is a very practical spirituality. It's not really the humanity, but the sharing of it that makes it so. As Truthseeker and I have noted recently, when one notes the humanity's existing condition in 2007, it could easily cause them to fall into a deep depression, because of the current state of affairs in the world today. But still, we breathe, we eat; so, imo? Hope still remains.
lightreaper, wait about five minutes, then check your privates, okay?
This is a confusing ballot question , for me anyways,  but I do believe it's a relational thing, my work schedule conflicts with my dads schedule, but whenever possible we eat together, that’s when we catch up on each others day, sometimes he'll even come to my job and have dinner with me.
I find it awkward when for example if because of no other tables available I have to eat with strangers and also find it awkward when I have to eat alone, I'm always feeling everyone is looking, thinking that loser, can’t find a dinner companion, also I don’t know what to do with my eyes. I know, I’m weird 
I don't know if there is a difference between spiritual and relational
^But whenever possible , meals are always a big deal in our family, we were never allowed to eat in front of TV.
^lightreaper--very intersting. Food, Sex, Foraging, and Love. These are the things I most occupy myself with. Eating, looking attractive (sex), having a good job, nice home and shopping for things to enhance my life and that of others (all forms of foraging), and the positive relationships I have with SO, family and friends (love). Maybe I'll read thbe book. She seems to have hit all the nails on the head.
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