Purpose
To make the everyday practice of cooking more collective, enabling people to support one another in a regular and sustainable way, especially during periods of illness, overwhelm, or increased responsibilities.
What need does it address?
- Sharing the workload of meal preparation
- Providing support during illness, busy periods, or times of crisis
- Reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation
- Strengthening relationships of solidarity among neighbors, apartment residents, colleagues, or friends
- Collective sharing of everyday care work
How can it be practiced?
1. Form a small group.
A group of 3–6 people can come together to start a meal sharing circle.
Participants may come from the same neighborhood, apartment building, workplace, or circle of friends.
2. Create a simple sharing rhythm.
Each week, or on designated days, one person prepares a meal and sets aside extra portions for one or two other people.
The responsibility then rotates to another person the following week or on the next sharing day. This helps ensure that the care work does not fall on a single individual.
3. Agree on the basics together.
Before starting, it can be helpful to discuss:
- How many portions will be prepared?
- On which days will meals be shared?
- How will meals be delivered or exchanged?
- If needed, how will costs be shared?
4. Adapt to changing needs.
During periods of illness, childbirth, grief, intense workloads, or other challenging circumstances, meal support can be directed primarily toward the person who needs it most.
The goal of this ritual is not for everyone to contribute the same amount of food, but to build a network of care that can respond to people’s needs when they arise.
5. Keep communication open.
Allergies, dietary preferences, religious or cultural considerations, and other specific needs can be discussed in advance.
This helps create a sharing environment that is safe, respectful, and inclusive for everyone involved.
Things to consider
- Strive to distribute responsibilities as fairly as possible.
- Participation should be voluntary; no one should take on more than their capacity allows.
- Not everyone has the same amount of time, cooking skills, or resources. Contributions can take different forms.
- Hygiene, food safety, and trust should always be considered.
- Revisit and adjust the sharing arrangement as needs change over time.
The Ihtimam Perspective
Ihtimam Rituals offer practical ways to strengthen care relationships in everyday life. However, lasting solutions to the invisibilization of care require changes not only in daily practices, but also in organizations, policies, and systems.
For more structural approaches, explore the Care Policy Recommendations Tool:
Shared by
This ritual was shared by one of İhtimam’s Co-Nurturers.
Ihtimam Rituals is a living collection of care practices developed by individuals, communities, and organizations in their everyday lives. You can contribute to this collective archive by sharing a ritual that strengthens care relationships in your own daily life.