This is why so many apartments have kitchens that look like they were recent ideas squeezed into the space, or tiny “kitchenettes”.

Reading older literature I’ve noticed how in older books the main character’s living arrangements often just doesn’t have any place to prepare or store food. They’ll reference street carts, open markets, pubs, etc as where they get food from. Or maybe a meal included with the rent in a boarding house.

Medieval peasants in pre-industrial Europe expected their employer to provide at least one, if not two meals during work. Three during long hours, like harvest season.