If there’s one banner people from all cultures can gather under, it's good food. And it’s not just a survival necessity — we want food to taste good, look good, and provide sensory memories. Since food occupies so much of our time and thought, it makes sense that the language around food continues to evolve. Let's look at a few slang terms that you might hear around the dinner table.
Noms
"Noms" is internet-speak terminology that popped up in the 2000s. This onomatopoeia is a shortened version of the sound of overly enthusiastic eating — "om nom nom" — like the sound Cookie Monster makes when he’s going to town on his treats. To use "noms" in a sentence, just replace the word “food” with “noms.”
Example:
Jane wants to go out for noms tonight. Let's do Thai!
"Noms" can also be used in place of the word "yummy," as in, “There are doughnuts in the break room … Noms! I want one with sprinkles.”
Lunner
"Lunner" (or is it "linner"?) is a portmanteau of lunch and dinner. "Brunch" combines breakfast and lunch, so if "lunner" follows those rules, it would be a late lunch or a very early dinner, intended to replace both meals with just the one.
On the other hand, there’s a long span of time between lunch at noon and dinner at, say, 8 p.m. "Lunner" could be an additional filler meal intended to stave off hunger pangs before a late evening meal approaches. When agreeing to lunner plans, confirm the intention before committing to ensure that no one gets "hangry."
Keto
If you have any fitness nuts in the house, you're likely familiar with this term. "Keto" is short for "ketogenic diet," AKA the latest version of the diet you might know as "low-carb" or "Atkins." This style of eating seems to resurface every generation, touting extreme (and easy) weight loss by eating a diet high in protein and low in carbs. Achieving "ketosis" means your body has changed how it processes food for energy. Before jumping into the keto lifestyle, talk to your doc about your goals and see if it's right for you.
Veganic
As people become more discerning in their dietary preferences, we need new terms to describe their needs. The term "veganic" is a portmanteau of vegan and organic, an adjective for people who eat a plant-based diet, but only with organic foods. An organic vegan diet is a very niche and narrow meal plan for vegans who have the necessary time and money for such preferences.
Food Baby
If you have a food baby, your belly is protruding after a very filling meal or noms session — or maybe it just feels like it is. "Food baby" can describe a physical look or merely the sensation, so you don't need to start buying maternity clothes.