![[Dossier 2/3] Elimination of Dinner in Homes: Economist and Sociologist Decipher the Causes and Consequences of the Problem](https://image.seneweb.com/content/news/2026-42-15//thumb_1260x800_6ad0b7454e527_E0NNUkmLjg.jpg)
[Dossier 2/3] Suppression du Dîner dans les foyers : Économiste et sociologue décryptent les causes et conséquences du mal
At Pa Sidibé's house, dinner has disappeared from family habits, while at Soda Ndiaye's, every meal has become a constant balancing act. In this second installment of our three-part in-depth report on the erosion of the family table, economists and sociologists analyze the mechanisms of this growing phenomenon. Between the drastic decline in purchasing power, dissected by Meissa Babou, and the risk of a breakdown in intergenerational ties, warned by Mame Aminata Diagne, the elimination of the evening meal reveals a profound social crisis with invisible human consequences.
At Pa Sidibé's house, dinner has disappeared from family life. At Soda Ndiaye's, every meal has become a balancing act. And around Ndeye Fama Diouf's basins of "fondé" (a type of fermented fish), there's a daily rush of customers looking for ways to feed an entire family at a lower cost. Different situations, but the same reality: when income dwindles, food becomes one of the first things to be cut. Behind these personal stories lies a broader reality: that of households forced to rethink their spending in the face of the constant pressure of the rising cost of living. But when these trade-offs involve food, their effects don't stop at what's on the plate. They also call into question the families' economic stability, their habits, and, beyond that, the fundamental bonds that unite their members.
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Household purchasing power under pressure
According to economist Meissa Babou, the disappearance of dinner in some households is part of a broader context of stifling pressure on household spending. Between rent, school fees, and food expenses, families now have to make numerous difficult choices.
"The new socio-economic configuration of Senegal does indeed reveal enormous difficulties. Faced with rental costs and the enormity of school expenses, food becomes one of the most complicated items to cover," he analyzes.
Faced with these constraints, households are trying to adapt their consumption levels to their actual income. According to the economist, this situation is resulting in the gradual disappearance of dinner in many homes.
“Our compatriots are trying to adapt, to adapt their purchasing power to food expenses. In many households, dinner is no longer provided by the head of the family. Adults sometimes have to fend for themselves to feed themselves,” explains Meissa Babou.
When family meals become too expensive
This forced adaptation also translates into new eating habits. For households that can no longer afford a home-cooked meal, informal, local food solutions become a survival option. Small eateries and "home-style restaurants" are thus playing an increasingly important role in the daily lives of people in working-class neighborhoods.
"To overcome these difficulties, we are turning to these new businesses, which are in fact home restaurants, cheap eateries, which offer foundation or, in any case, cheaper meals," the economist points out.
Behind these new practices, Meissa Babou sees above all a sign of severely weakened purchasing power. "We can indeed say that the purchasing power of Senegalese people is extremely shaken," he believes, going so far as to speak of "a disastrous economic situation."
This pressure eventually affects not only the content of meals themselves, but also their daily frequency. For the most vulnerable households, the question is no longer just what to eat, but sometimes how many meals they can still manage to provide each day.
Three meals a day: A balance that has become almost impossible
“Many families have no choice but to stop providing three meals a day,” says Meissa Babou. This situation forces some adults to fend for themselves to eat and further undermines the authority and traditional role of the head of the household in providing food for the family.
The economist places this reality within the broader issue of poverty, which he believes is directly linked to the imbalance between household income and their unavoidable expenses.
"Absolute or relative poverty is measured in relation to purchasing power, therefore income, and in relation to family expenses," he reminds us.
In urban areas, particularly in Dakar, households must contend with three major expenses: housing, education, and food. But this economic equation is not simply a matter of numbers. It is also influenced by traditional family support networks and the overwhelming responsibilities borne by those who care for several relatives.
Family solidarity that can also weaken households
“We are also in a social consumer society. Senegalese people are so festive that we often tend to forget that we need to make reserves to avoid sinking into absolute poverty,” he observes.
The economist also mentions the sociological weight of extended families, where a single modest income sometimes has to be used to support a plurality of dependents.
"In each household, it is often only one person who has to work to support the whole family, a family very often extended by about ten people," he explains, before summarizing this pressure with an evocative formula: "By trying to help nine poor people, you risk becoming the tenth."
This economic vulnerability is therefore not limited to the family table. When a household struggles to meet its essential expenses, the consequences can gradually affect children and teenagers, negatively altering their life trajectory.
Poverty: A risk that goes beyond just food
For Meissa Babou, the consequences of this precarious situation go far beyond the issue of daily meals. He particularly warns of the serious risks to which children and adolescents from the most vulnerable households are exposed.
"The risk in relation to this situation of poverty is enormous," he warns.
For underage boys, he specifically mentions the risk of homelessness, delinquency, or economic exploitation. For girls, he warns of the risks of early school dropout, social vulnerability, and exposure to violence and sexual exploitation.
"The consequences could be fatal for members of such a family," the economist concluded.
Dinner: A rare moment of family reunion
For sociologist Mame Aminata Diagne, the disappearance of dinner does not only affect eating habits. It also threatens a fundamental moment in family life: the time when members of the same household come together after a day of activities outside.
“Dinner is one of the most anticipated moments in the family. In many homes, parents work all day and only have the night to reconnect with their children around the meal. It’s an opportunity to talk, spend time together and fill the void created during the day,” she explains.
When everyone eats on their own, interactions become less frequent.
However, when the evening meal disappears, this daily ritual vanishes with it. In some families, each child now receives a small amount of money to eat individually outside the home. This practice, according to the sociologist, exacerbates the relational distance between parents and children.
“The child eats, then goes to bed, without necessarily crossing paths with his parents who come home late. Parents can thus go several days without really interacting with their children. Eating alone also does not promote familiarization with other family members and can accustom the child to a form of isolation and loneliness,” emphasizes Mame Aminata Diagne.
An economic sacrifice with serious moral consequences
The sociologist acknowledges that, in a context of high cost of living, skipping dinner may appear to be an unavoidable financial trade-off for some households. But behind this material saving lies an invaluable social cost: that of communication, parental control, and education within the home.
“Times are tough and, for some, sacrificing dinner remains an alternative. But this option is not without consequences. Mealtimes are a special time to communicate, discuss, and share with children, but also to guide and set boundaries with them. If this time disappears because of the current situation, an important part of this family and moral transmission risks being lost,” she warns.
But economic pressure isn't measured solely by what families can still afford on the market. It's also measured by what they lose when financial constraints ultimately disrupt their fundamental lifestyles. And among these invisible losses is that moment, as ordinary as it is essential: the shared meal around the family bowl.
When economic constraints lead families to reduce or eliminate the evening meal, the issue is no longer limited to purchasing power or relationships within the household. It also directly impacts the nutritional quality of what families put on their plates and the significant health risks that can result.
Commentaires (35)
Sous Macky on vivait très bien
Africans eat too much
Peut être que ton patron chinois veut des esclaves.
« Ne crois pas que l’État ou l’école feront ton destin.
Ils peuvent te donner des outils, mais jamais ta victoire.
Ta richesse naît de ton audace,
Ton intelligence de ta discipline,
Et ta réussite de ta responsabilité. Chaque pas que tu fais pour toi-même
Est une pierre posée sur le chemin de ta grandeur.
Alors, arrête d’attendre qu’on t’élève :
Lève-toi toi-même, et le monde suivra »
Aucun gouvernement et aucun budget fusse t-il celui des USA ou de Dubai ne pourra jamais régler ce problème qui ne fait que commencer.
Quand tu entends celles occidentalisées ou manipulées par le Féminisme,parler de Droits des Femmes,Droits des Femmes,alors que la plupart n apportent rien aux frais de survie et d entretien des ménages,t as juste envie de les gifler.
Plus d investisseurs trop de chomeurs c est normal le Pastef et son leader ont cause trop de mal aux senegalais.
Qu Allah ns protege!
Amine!
Seules 4 travaillent, et autres capables de travailler veulent le boulot parfait
Vous voyez le problème
Sinon il faut apprendre aux gens qui sont dans les familles et fichent rien d’aller travailler et participer à la dépense quotidienne au Sénégal on nourrit trop de paresseux
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