Eating With Friends

If you have been following our blog, you know we talk about healthy eating. We have focused a lot on nutritious foods, and sharing tools to help you cook for yourself. But eating involves far more than just food. There are many social aspects of meals that are an integral component of the eating process. When I think about my favourite meals, I don’t simply think about the nutrients that I am consuming. I think about where I am, who is with me, the sounds, the smells, the taste, the feelings, and perhaps even laughter shared with others. Eating is a social activity and a way of interacting with others. Research shows that social isolation is a factor that interferes with the ability to eat well. Therefore, the social experience around meals can make a big difference to your food consumption. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies social engagement as a strong determinant of health. Friendship and social relations help build strong support networks and provide us with emotional and practical resources we all need. It is this sense of belonging that has a powerful protective effect on health. Nutritious meals are also an important determinant of health, so why not boost your health status by incorporating social gatherings with healthy meals.

Did you know that you are more likely to try new foods when eating with a group of people (Vanderbilt, 2013)? I don’t know about you, but I am often guilty of falling into the routine of eating the same foods every week. By enjoying foods with friends/family we are more likely to include these new foods in our future meals. Just a few weeks ago I had never tried kale before, but after trying it with friends I loved it and even learned to make my own kale chips! Friends are a support system to try out new foods. When you surround yourself with a variety of new foods you have more opportunities to incorporate more vitamins, minerals and nutrients into your healthy diet.

We are also much more mindful when eating with friends. This means that we take more time to enjoy and savour the foods we are eating. By eating with company, we tend to engage more in conversation, which slows down your meals (Vanderbilt, 2013). This gives your body time to feel full because it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to tell your body you are full (Vanderbilt, 2013). Since you slow down your mealtime, you are less likely to overeat.

Send us a pic of you eating with friends and we’ll post it on one of our social media platforms!

EWF (2012). Eating With Friends Project retrieved from: http://nht.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EWF-benefits-docFINAL2014.pdf

Vanderbilt (2013)Together is Better: Why Eating Together Promotes Good Health. Retrieved from  http://www.vanderbilt.edu/recreationandwellnesscenter/wellness/wp-content/uploads/The-Science-Behind-It-Together-is-Better.pdf