D&D and snacking, a subliminal message?

[Allanon]

The topic Rules of Gaming touched ever so slightly on this, but I'm interested in the opinion of the gaming community present on this forum.

Is snacking and gaming standard at your games? At mine it is, it's frowned upon if someone doesn't at te least bring something to snack or drink (preferably both). This has been a standard for as long as I have gamed, with all the gaming groups I've played with.

Is this a secret message encoded within the pages of the PH? Or is it something deeply engrained in human nature, snacking during gaming.

Now I'm not saying this because I want everyone to repent their ways and see the light . But more because during gaming nights I eat the equivalent of a small third world country in about 4 to 5 hours and it's all pure snack food. I normally eat quite healthy but during gaming it's almost second nature to grab some more and more and more... And I don't even notice it

. It's at the end of the night when the balance of empty chips bags, salsa dip and chocolate chip cookies is made up that everyone notices how much has been munched away.

 

[Crothian]

Sometimes we snack, other times we prepare a very complicated meal. It depends on what people want. Normally though it's not much perhaps som tea and soda.

 

[Nebin]

Don't know much about the subliminal part, but after the weekly game of D20 Modern at the WoTC compound we have to call a cleaning crew, Ryan makes Krusky look neat.

 

[John Crichton]

With a corner store about 4 houses down you would think the members of my group would be bloated and fat by now. However, this is not the case.

We hit the store before the session for drinks and a few little snacks for those not eating dinner. We typically order out for Italian or Chinese. Otherwise, during the session there is mostly just drinking of soda, iced tea, beer, juice or water. There may occasionally be some chips or candy.

Maybe if I didn't DM so much I would munch more.

Although in the game I play in (different group where I don't DM) there isn't much snacking either. Just dinner before the game or during a break and drinks while we play.

 

[randomling]

I munch an awful lot at games. Way too much. What doesn't help is I always eat huge junk for dinner on game night because I travel a long way to game.

Hm, next game I'm bringing something vaguely healthy to put in the oven when I get there and providing some fruit to snack on. It's a little late for New Year's resolutions but I should eat healthier.

 

[Nifft]

We tend to break for dinner (order pizza, chinese food, burritos, etc.), and that's usually as junk-food-y as we get.

Sometimes I'll get cheese & crackers or various crunchy things from Gourmet Garage (like wasabi peas! mmmm!), or someone will bring salsa & chips. Usually I drink coffee or tea, not soda.

-- N

 

[Ace]

We sometimes eat Chinese take out from the restaraunt across the street from the FLGS where we game.

Most of the time everyone eats first

As for snacks- most of the time no one brings them for some reason.

Drinks come either form the FLGS soda machine or from a nearby gas station-- in my case always diet soda -- its not worth the 400 calories of pure sugar to drink the sugared stuff

As for the cliches I hate Mountain Dew and rarely eat Doritos --

 

[Painfully]

Eating at the gaming table really depends upon how hungry I am, but I try to eat "real" food either before or after the game, which limits my urge to snack. Of course, some days I might miss a meal, which means ordering a pizza.

I find that if I'm really absorbed into the game I won't have time to snack. When I DM, I rarely have time for pizza unless the entire group stops to take a break. The same is true when I am busy painting minis. Even though I might take some breaks, if I'm more interested in the next part of the mini, I'll easily work past my hunger for another hour or two.

I think snacking and gaming come from having to sit in one place for a long time. Part of it is just courtesy. Traditionally, a host is expected to make guests comfortable with drinks and food. For a regular gathering, it's only right to expect a more equal contribution from members.

 

[Nifft]

Oh, and I answered "Other".

-- N

PS: Personally, I hate Doritos, and I reserve Mountain Dew for work (programming).

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I place drinks as a higher priority then snacks, but not by much. For me it's usually soda, or if i'm playing and can afford it a six pack or two of what ever beer catches my eye. As for snacks we usaully get some food,pizza, chinese, wendy's, KFC, ect. Plus i'll usually grab a bag of chips to munch on, or once in a while a pint of ben and jerry's, i almsot never get candy.