måltid

Måltid is a term used in Swedish, Norwegian and Danish to denote a meal—an eating occasion characterized by prepared food and drink. It refers to a single sitting or to meals in general, and is a neutral label that can cover breakfast, lunch, dinner, or any other structured eating occasion. In everyday language it is often contrasted with snacking or with unplanned eating.

Practically, each language has common names for specific måltider. In Swedish, frukost means breakfast, lunch is simply lunch, and middag refers to the evening meal. In Norwegian, frokost is breakfast, lunsj is lunch, and middag is dinner. In Danish, morgenmad is breakfast, frokost is lunch, and aftensmad (or middag in some regions) is the evening meal. There are regional and historical variations, and terms like kvælsmat or kvällsmat may appear in certain contexts.

Culturally, måltider are frequently viewed as social occasions and as opportunities for family, friends, or colleagues to gather. The structure and timing of meals can vary with work schedules, school, and local tradition. Nutritionally, meals are often planned to provide a balanced mix of protein, carbohydrates, vegetables and fats, though actual practices differ widely across households and over time.

Etymology-wise, måltid has Germanic roots and cognates across the Scandinavian languages, reflecting a shared concept of a defined eating occasion rather than a specific dish. The term remains a standard, neutral way to refer to a seated eating event in Nordic languages.