If I could meet you in person instead of writing to you, I’d invite you over for a little apéritif and tell you a Dinner Story. Maybe we’ll meet one day, but for now, today’s story is about the beauty and practicality of the apéritif.
It is more than merely a delightful social custom. The apéritifIt supports healthy eating habits and can satisfy children hungry for a snack right before dinner.
The French word apéritif comes from the Latin verb aperire, which means "to open." The apéritif is meant to appease you and open your appetite but not spoil it: a drink and a small nibble get the digestive juices flowing, which aids in digestion during the meal.
Sometimes apéritifs are long and luxurious but they can also be short and sweet—like today's apéritif.
An apéritif takes the edge off your hunger, helping with portion control. When you’re starving, it’s easy to gobble food down and eat too quickly. If you eat too fast, you don’t give your stomach time to signal to your brain that you’re full—which takes about twenty minutes—and it’s easy to overeat.
What about when the kids are hungry before dinner time and don’t have the patience to wait? When they clamor for a snack, a little apéritif solves this problem.
If your kids are nagging you before dinner, don’t give them a “snack," give them a nutritious apéritif to appease them before the meal. A proper apéritif won’t ruin their appetite; it will open it up.
Some simple suggestions for an apéritif are a few cherry tomatoes, slices of dried sausage, grapes and gouda cheese, and a few olives, nuts, carrots, or cucumber slices with perhaps a dollop of Boursin cheese.
The apéritif is also an opportune moment to get the veggies on the table first—when kids are hungry! I often also serve a few bites of leftovers, like bite-sized pieces of quiche or toast with leftover tomato sauce. Any little nibble will do.
As for the adults, when I talk about the apéritif, people often tell me when they get home, and they’re starving, they gobble down some leftovers, chocolate, or chips to curb their hunger until they can get dinner made. This can lead to eating too much before dinner or overindulging in carbs like chips or chocolate.
Instead, enjoy some chips—but just a few, along with any other little nibble you like. To portion them out, it's helpful to put them in a small bowl. Any leftovers can be served for a first course or part of the main dish. And save the piece of chocolate for the perfect dessert!
Putting a simple apéritif together on a weekday evening takes just a few minutes. Put out some water—sparkling or plain—maybe with a dash of bitters and a few nibbles—and everyone can open their appetites while dinner is prepared.
I hope you’ll enjoy many delicious and meaningful apéritifs!
