The ratio of food preparation time to consumption time is often overlooked in table etiquette. Ideally, if it takes 30 minutes to prepare dinner, one should spend at least 45 minutes enjoying it, reflecting a 2:3 ratio where eating time should be about 150% of preparation time. Embracing mindful dining practices can help honour this balance. In Japanese culture, for example, people say Itadakimasu before a meal, meaning βI humbly receiveβ expressing gratitude for the food, the people who prepared it, and all that made the meal possible.