SEtalk: Why We Should Eat Together

What did you eat for lunch yesterday? And here's a harder question: who did you eat with? If you're like many people, the answer is nobody. Today, I want to talk about the dinner table. Three years ago, I moved to Manchester for a new job. I didn't know anyone there, so I used to eat every meal at my desk. It was quick and easy, but it felt empty. One Sunday, my neighbour knocked on my door, and she was holding a big pot of soup! She always cooked too much, and she wanted to share. So, does eating together really make a difference? In 2017, Oxford researchers asked two thousand adults about their meals. People who often ate with others felt happier. They trusted people more, and they had more friends to rely on. They were also more involved in their local community! Do you know where the word companion comes from? In Latin, it means someone you share bread with. For thousands of years, food has brought people together. We don't share meals only because we're hungry. We share them because we need each other. But today, more and more of us eat alone. In America, almost half of adult meals and snacks are eaten alone. We grab something quick, and we eat it at our desks. When life gets busy, shared meals are the first thing we lose. So I started something small that I called Soup Sundays. Every Sunday at six, I make a big pot of soup, and anyone who wants to can come. That first Sunday, only two people came, and I felt silly. One of them was the woman with the soup! Now there are usually twelve of us, and it's always loud! We've shared birthdays, bad days, and a lot of bread. Sharing a meal is never just about the food. So this week, invite someone you don't usually eat with. If you can't cook, don't worry. Just bring the bread! Thank you, and enjoy your next meal together!