A few years back while island hopping around the Greek Dodecanese, our small group inadvertently stumbled into a village that was preparing for a big feast.
We were immediately welcomed with open arms, and despite me not knowing any Greek and the locals not knowing any English, I found myself helping in a kitchen where a swarm of women were furiously chopping, stirring and cooking large vats of delicious smelling food.
Meanwhile the men were outside, helping to get the chairs and tables set up.
As the sun started to set, the music started and we joined in the feast. There was much chatter, laughter and dancing, and we staggered to our accommodation much later with overfull bellies and having drunk far too much Retsina.
Eating with Others is Good for Wellbeing
Sharing a meal.
It’s such a simple thing to do. From eating dinner as a family, enjoying a celebratory meal or sharing a picnic, the act of gathering to eat food with others provides us with, many health benefits.
Breaking bread together is good for our wellbeing.
The Family Dinner Project is an American non-profit that promotes family dinners because, while this is something that families always used to do, today it’s estimated that only 30% of families regularly sit around a table and eat together.
Why? Shift work, both parents working long hours, time poverty for cooking or preparing a meal, picky eaters, kids doing sport and other activities, the list of reasons why fewer families eat together goes on.
We eat to gain all the essential nutrients required to keep us healthy and provide us with energy. But a shared meal provides a social dynamic to the experience, whether in the preparation, in sampling and trying out new foods and strengthening social bonds.
Preparing a meal for others can be considered an act of love. It provides us great pleasure to see others enjoying our food.
When in the mood and when I have the time and energy, I love experimenting and cooking something different. This includes when cooking for friends!
The Mediterranean Diet is frequently recommended because it includes a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains, legumes, lean meat and dairy, perfect for healthy eating. Adherence to this and other similar patterns of eating is linked to lower prevalence of chronic disease and better psychological well-being.
Recent research also suggests how the Mediterranean Diet, which has a strong cultural influence on shared eating, can reduce loneliness.
According to the 2025 World Happiness Report sharing a meal is one of the strongest predictors of well-being.
People who eat together report significantly higher levels of life satisfaction and positive mood across all ages, genders, countries, cultures and regions.
The trend is towards greater dining alone
More of us are eating alone more often. This is especially true for teenagers and young adults which is raising public health concerns that this is associated with the growing level of loneliness and loss of social connection.
Older adults enjoy better mental well-being when they eat communally, with lower reported loneliness, sadness or emotional distress and stimulating the sense of belonging. Taking my Mum out to the local pub for lunch was always a highlight for her and she always enjoyed “throwing a party” for celebratory events while she was still living in her own home, accompanied by far too much food, which she then ate up gradually for weeks afterwards.
Adolescents, whose availability for family meals and culinary choices may differ from their parents, report having fewer symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression when they do eat with the rest of the family. Encouraging them to continue to stay for supper is important for their emotional well-being, just as much as helping them to enjoy healthier food choices.
Robin Dunbar writes about this, reporting those who eat socially often feel happier, are more trusting of others and are more engaged in their local communities and have more friends they can depend on for social support.
Think back to the last social event you attended, whether an informal supper or BBQ.
What was your experience?
Positive, I hope!
Shared food leads to shared conversations and stories, more memories and laughter.
Dunbar’s research also found that shared evening meals were significantly more appropriate or valuable for building friendships than eating at midday.
Would you agree with that?
March 26th is Social Prescribing Day.
It’s a time to reflect on and consider how we can get better at bringing people together.
There are many different facets to a social prescription other than food, which could include joining an art class or a choir, becoming involved in a community garden or local walking group, depending on what is available locally and your interests.
Social connection is one of the key pillars of Lifestyle Medicine and is something I am especially passionate about because when we feel more socially connected, we feel happier, we’re more resilient, we can cope more easily with the daily challenges of life, and we’re healthier too.
So why not,
- Get the kids involved in preparing and cooking a meal
- Get your partner involved if it’s often left up to you to do all the cooking
- Join a Supper Club
- Join The Men’s Table
- Invite your neighbour over to share a meal
- Invite your friends over for a BBQ at home or in a local park
- Sign up for a cookery class
- Enjoy a virtual meal over Zoom, Facetime or Skype
- Cook a family favourite – Grandma’s apple pie anyone?
- Gift your own special treats – biscuits, muesli or your special spice combination for a curry
- Get known at your local favourite café – say Hello, or ask questions about their food etc
It comes down to choice and knowing what’s right for you.
If feeling connected matters to you, I’d love to hear how you build social connection through sharing a meal.
thank you Jenny I love your informative posts