Why It’s Better to Eat Together

By Jasmine Clark, Live Well Enhance You Contributing Writer

How many times lately have you had a meal while your eyes were glued to the TV, your phone was in your hand as you scrolled social media, or you were working at your computer?

People do this all the time because it’s convenient. But it’s not the best way to eat. Wouldn’t it be better to spend time with people you love and have meaningful conversations with them? That’s what Eat Better Eat Together Month is about. October is a month dedicated to sharing meals with family and friends.

Is it bad to eat by yourself?

It’s not that eating by yourself is necessarily a bad thing – but there are some downsides. Eating alone means less social interaction, which results in less emotional support and more loneliness. Also, without others to talk to, you’re more likely to eat while being distracted by a screen. This would mean you’re not eating mindfully.

Mindful eating means you’re grateful for your food and you’re savoring the present moment while you eat it. When you practice mindful eating, you’re more aware of what and how you’re eating, causing you to feel better physically and emotionally about food. You can develop mindful eating habits by yourself, but it’s easier when you share a meal with others.

Benefits of eating together for families

Eating together is great for everyone, especially families with kids. Family meals help kids bond emotionally with their parents and siblings, creating a bond that lasts far beyond childhood. Kids really do care about those family dinners. Jessica Braider of The Scramble food blog said this about her child: “My 8-year-old has commented numerous times that I have been away for dinner too much (and has also celebrated when the four of us get to sit down together).” 

Family meals are also a big learning opportunity for children. They can learn about good table manners, portion control, healthy eating habits, and trying new foods. Having meals with family gives a major boost to young children’s vocabularies because mealtime is the perfect time for conversation. In fact, it’s even more effective for vocabulary learning than playtime and storytime.

Teenagers benefit from family dinners too. A study showed that “frequency of family meals was inversely associated with tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use; low grade point average; depressive symptoms; and suicide involvement” in adolescents. The study explored possible reasons for this, one reason being that family meals give parents an opportunity to “check in” with their kids and see how they’re doing emotionally. This is valuable for both teens and parents.

Benefits of eating together for couples and friends

Couples should definitely celebrate Eat Better Eat Together Month! It’s nice to have some relaxing couple time by sharing a meal without any screens around. Elizabeth Su, writer for online therapy provider TalkSpace, recommends couples have device-free dinners. Doing so improves mental health for couples and helps them maintain a healthy relationship by encouraging connection. Even couples with children should set aside time just for themselves, and eating together is for sure a good way to do that.

Friends should eat together too. Yes, schedules get busy, but don’t let that stop you from getting together with friends and bonding over a meal. Whether it’s a one-on-one meal or a group outing, taking time out of your busy schedule to eat with friends shows that you value them and care about what’s going on in their lives. Then there are the people who aren’t close friends but you’d like to learn more about them. Eating with them helps you get to know them better and create a sense of inclusion and unity (which we need in today’s world).

If you want to make eating together even more fun, try cooking together. Cooking with your friends, romantic partner, kids, or relatives is an amazing way to spend time together because it involves teamwork, creativity, and problem solving. Eating together feels much more satisfying after you put in the effort to make the food. Plus, teaching kids the important life skill of cooking will benefit them as they get older.

How do you want to eat together this month? It can be hard to take time out of your jam-packed day to eat with loved ones, and putting your devices aside may take some getting used to. But the love, smiles and laughter around the table will be well worth it.

Jasmine Clark is a freelance writer from North Carolina. She enjoys writing about topics such as stress relief and positive thinking. She likes to encourage others to find ways to calm down and relax. In her spare time, she loves to write fiction stories and watch TV and YouTube. You can find her on Instagram @cozysachi.