It seems people in this country are way too focused on food. Like that lady on TV that suggests you make some nice fattening fried chicken for her family so you can "Show them your love"! I used to be one of those ladies - by the time you spend hours fixing stuff and then cleaning up there's not much time left for just playing, visiting or catching up on each other's lives. At the other end of the food push is the money making weight loss extreme which is not only stupid but an insult to all those who must use it to sustain life. There are so many other things to do when getting together with family/friends. When I visited friends in Mexico, playing dominoes with team competition was the big thing! When I was a child visiting with family in Quebec I remember my uncle playing his violin for me or letting me play with his wood carvings or taking me out to the shed to see the small pony he had there. It was exciting to peek in the window to see where the pony was. I didn't find out until years later that there never was a pony. But the memories of adventure and excitement are still there.