Bubbling conversation, the tinkling of laughter, glasses clinking, intermittent silence followed by a sigh of flavorful enjoyment; these are pieces of love from a meal shared together. Sharing meals allows for thoughts, emotions and experiences to be shared across generations and brings community together. Eating together is done less today, but with research backing the positive effects of eating together, we think it makes sense to gather around a table, a little more often, with people you love.
Better for kids
Analysis from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that students who do not regularly share meals with their parents are more likely to be truant at school. In addition to poor behavior, children who do not eat dinner with their parents at least twice a week, were also 40 percent more likely to be overweight compared with those who do. Children who eat a few meals a week with family also show better academic performance and have less trouble with drugs and alcohol. Grab those kids and get them around the table for their favorite meal, bribe them if necessary (we can keep a secret)!
Simple food eaten together
When we are not eating together at home, the alternative is usually fast food, which is often full of salt, fat and other unhealthy ingredients. Meals without friends or family are often eaten alone, in our car or at our desk, which can be alienating and depressing. The act of eating together does not have to be a grandiose affair. You don’t have to get out the fancy plates and buy expensive hors d’oeuvres. Simple food with flavor, shared with friends, is the key.
“Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate.” – Alan D. Wolfelt
Coming together for a meal and not conversing? It is possible, and maybe if you are a family with teens, it is the norm. But don’t discount the mealtime because it wasn’t full of chatter. Just being together in the presence of people who care for each other is uplifting. Taking the time to enjoy good food nourishes the mind, body and soul. Together we are better, with or without words, a meal eaten and enjoyed is always delightful!
And eating together doesn’t always have to be a homemade affair. Healthy delivery options do exist, when you are too tired to cook. That’s one of the reasons Melita’s Table was created, we wanted to create memories and good food for you and your loved ones. We are all truly better together!
Ideas in this blog post were inspired by this article: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/07/the-importance-of-eating-together/374256/
