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A snack and an appetizer may be small, but they serve different purposes. One fills a gap between meals; the other opens a meal that is still to come.

That purpose helps determine portion and preparation. A portable savory square can suit a planned snack, while a small dip or vegetable starter can introduce a larger table without taking over the meal.

Planning a defined serving also makes the eating occasion clearer. Instead of leaving a bowl in continuous reach, choose what you intend to eat and put the rest away.

There is no single meal pattern that fits every appetite or schedule. The practical point is to make the small dish a deliberate part of the day, with enough attention to how it relates to the meals around it.