How Dining with Others Can Enhance Nutrition and Well-Being
Sitting down for a meal with others — including our friends, family members, and even new acquaintances — can help forge a lasting bond. Beyond the social benefits, eating with others can also enhance our nutrition and well-being. Keep reading to find out how sharing a meal with someone else can improve your health and how Visiting Angels of Matawan caregivers contribute to the well-being of the seniors they assist.
What is the Connection?
Many wild animals eat together, from a herd of cows to flocks of birds. Humans aren’t much different in our eating patterns, which is why eating alone can make you feel like you’re disconnected. In addition, according to the Cleveland Clinic, seven factors contribute to our eating behaviors:
- Cultural
- Economic status
- Evolutionary
- Family
- Individual
- Psychological
- Social
Research has shown that eating with others can improve our nutrition, from promoting healthier eating behaviors to aiding digestion. Sharing a meal with one or more people can also activate certain chemicals in the brain, including endogenous opioids and oxytocin. Additional research points to the link between eating with others and self-confidence, despite a lack of evolutionary need to eat in groups.
How to Improve Your Well-Being By Eating with Others
Preparing and sharing a meal with other people can offer several benefits. Whether you are the cook or just sample the food, consider using the following methods to improve your well-being by eating with other people and encouraging others to do the same.
- Schedule meals with others: Some families do Sunday dinners together, while others assemble once a month. However you prefer to meet and break bread, make it a routine.
- Invite friends over for a meal: As you’re getting to know someone, sharing a meal together can help forge a bond and deepen your friendship. You can put on a potluck or simply find a restaurant you both like.
- Eat different meals together to spice things up: Instead of meeting for lunch or dinner, consider meeting earlier for brunch or even breakfast. This method is easy to pair with a new restaurant or recipe you want to try.
If you run out of inspiration for meals, consider adding themed elements or an activity to the mix. For example, many book clubs share a meal while discussing the plots of the current book they’re reading. If you want to approach meal-time from a different cultural perspective, consider completing an activity that’s related to that culture, like creating your own pasta for an Italian-themed night.
How Visiting Angels of Matawan Supports Senior Nutrition
Visiting Angels of Matawan caregivers can help seniors plan and prepare meals, but we’re also delighted to break bread with the seniors we care for. Our companion care assists seniors in improving their quality of life, regardless of their desire to be independent. If you’d like to learn more about our senior home care services, contact us to schedule a free consultation.