1,319. The Meal of Consolation

205:1 On the first day of shiva, a mourner is forbidden to eat his first meal of his own food, so it's a mizvah for his neighbors to send him that first meal. This is called seudas havra'ah, the meal of consolation. The meal should start with eggs or lentils because these are round without any openings; this is like a mourner who metaphorically has no mouth (i.e., he is unable to speak). After that, the mourner may eat any kind of food, even meat. He may also drink a little wine during the meal as an aid to digestion but he may not do so excessively. Some authorities say that a mourner may not eat of his own food for the entire first day, even if he will eat several times that day.

205:2 If the mourner doesn't desire to eat all day until nightfall, since the day has passed, he is permitted to eat of his own food. Therefore, one who lives alone in a village and has no one to send him the seudas havra'ah should fast until night. If he is unable to fast, he is not required to distress himself and he may eat of his own food.