Can you eat during the Seder?

In our family, we grew up with an unspoken rule that there was no eating during the Seder, except for what was required as part of the seder. Except for babies in highchairs.

 We snacked before the seder began – often taste-testing the desserts, or just enjoying nibbles brought for that reason.

Then the seder would begin.  We ate matzah when it was called for in the Haggadah. We ate parsley when it was called for. We ate charoset and maror when they were called for. We drank grape juice (and later wine) when prompted in the Haggadah. When we got older and had kids of our own, if they couldn’t stand the wait, we would leave the table to feed and entertain them. Otherwise, we waited with anticipation and growling stomachs for the point where the Haggadah proclaimed “Shulchan Oraich – Dinner is served”.  As children, of course, it took a hungry eternity to arrive there.

Then, of course, we ate our hearts out, almost to the point of absurdity. We still do: from hard-boiled eggs in salt water, through soup, gefilte fish, multiple meat and vegetable dishes, through to enough desserts to last a month and tea to wash it all down, we outdo ourselves – until the grace after meals, at which point, the frenzy stops until we reach the end of the seder.

 It was a revelation to me when someone suggested putting out snacks on the table, initially to make the wait easier on our children.  I’ve looked around the Internet – even at the more traditional sites – in preparation for writing this blog, and couldn’t find anything prohibiting it.  We do that sometimes now – although most of the kids are old enough to wait now (in fact, very few of them are actually kids any more) – and it’s been a real boon. Nobody is cranky by time it’s time to serve the meal. In theory,  maybe we don’t overeat as much, but I’m doubtful about this: our Seder meals are delicious potluck feasts, and it’s no easier to pass on trying everything.

 So….snack away! A blessing for food appears very early in the Seder – with the eating of greens – and then you’re good to go!

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