SEtalk: Why We Should Eat Together

What did you eat for lunch yesterday?

大家昨天午餐吃了什麼？

And here's a harder question: who did you eat with?

再來一個更難的問題：你們是跟誰一起吃的？

If you're like many people, the answer is nobody.

如果你們跟很多人一樣，答案就是：沒有人。

Today, I want to talk about the dinner table.

今天，我想跟大家聊聊餐桌。

Three years ago, I moved to Manchester for a new job.

3年前，我因為一份新工作搬到了Manchester。

I didn't know anyone there,

我在那裡一個人都不認識，

so I used to eat every meal at my desk.

所以我每一餐都在辦公桌前吃。

It was quick and easy, but it felt empty.

又快又方便，但總覺得心裡空空的。

One Sunday, my neighbour knocked on my door,

有個星期天，我的鄰居來敲我的門，

and she was holding a big pot of soup!

她手上捧著一大鍋湯！

She always cooked too much, and she wanted to share.

她總是煮太多，想分一些給別人。

So, does eating together really make a difference?

那麼，一起吃飯真的有差嗎？

In 2017, Oxford researchers asked two thousand adults about their meals.

2017年，Oxford的研究人員針對用餐習慣訪問了2000位成年人。

People who often ate with others felt happier.

常跟別人一起吃飯的人，覺得自己比較快樂。

They trusted people more, and they had more friends to rely on.

他們比較信任別人，也有更多可以依靠的朋友。

They were also more involved in their local community!

他們也更積極參與在地社區的活動！

Do you know where the word companion comes from?

你們知道「companion」這個字是從哪裡來的嗎？

In Latin, it means someone you share bread with.

在拉丁文裡，它的意思是「和你分享麵包的人」。

For thousands of years, food has brought people together.

幾千年來，食物一直把人們凝聚在一起。

We don't share meals only because we're hungry.

我們一起吃飯，不只是因為肚子餓。

We share them because we need each other.

我們一起吃飯，是因為我們需要彼此。

But today, more and more of us eat alone.

但現在，我們當中越來越多人一個人吃飯。

In America, almost half of adult meals and snacks are eaten alone.

在美國，成年人的正餐和點心，幾乎有一半是一個人吃的。

We grab something quick, and we eat it at our desks.

我們隨便買個東西，就在辦公桌前吃掉。

When life gets busy, shared meals are the first thing we lose.

生活一忙起來，最先消失的就是一起吃的那頓飯。

So I started something small that I called Soup Sundays.

於是我辦了一個小活動，取名叫Soup Sundays。

Every Sunday at six, I make a big pot of soup,

每個星期天晚上6點，我會煮一大鍋湯，

and anyone who wants to can come.

想來的人都可以來。

That first Sunday, only two people came, and I felt silly.

第一個星期天，只來了2個人，我覺得自己有點蠢。

One of them was the woman with the soup!

其中一位，就是那位端湯來的女士！

Now there are usually twelve of us, and it's always loud!

現在通常有12個人，每次都超熱鬧的！

We've shared birthdays, bad days, and a lot of bread.

我們一起過生日、一起度過難熬的日子，也一起分了好多麵包。

Sharing a meal is never just about the food.

一起吃飯，從來都不只是為了食物。

So this week, invite someone you don't usually eat with.

所以這個禮拜，大家可以邀請一位平常不常一起吃飯的人。

If you can't cook, don't worry.

如果你們不會煮飯，別擔心。

Just bring the bread!

帶麵包來就好！

Thank you, and enjoy your next meal together!

謝謝大家，下一餐記得找人一起吃得開開心心！