Today we're exploring an interesting question: Can eating with friends and loved ones actually improve your health?
It's a question we Americans don't usually spend a lot of time thinking about.
In many European countries, mealtimes are considered social times, sometimes lasting hours, and involving plenty of stimulating conversation along with the food. I remember this as one of my favorite things about visiting Europe!
Growing up in a half-Italian family with several siblings, mealtimes were often noisy, boisterous affairs - especially when friends or extended family were involved. My husband still sometimes gets overwhelmed at Christmas dinner at my parents' house with all the generations gathered together talking over each other! :-)
However, in much of modern America, the trend over the past century seems to have been towards more and more solo eating habits. In this interesting podcast episode of The Doctor's Farmacy, they examine the question of whether this trend is negatively impacting our health as a nation...
It's a question we Americans don't usually spend a lot of time thinking about.
In many European countries, mealtimes are considered social times, sometimes lasting hours, and involving plenty of stimulating conversation along with the food. I remember this as one of my favorite things about visiting Europe!
Growing up in a half-Italian family with several siblings, mealtimes were often noisy, boisterous affairs - especially when friends or extended family were involved. My husband still sometimes gets overwhelmed at Christmas dinner at my parents' house with all the generations gathered together talking over each other! :-)
However, in much of modern America, the trend over the past century seems to have been towards more and more solo eating habits. In this interesting podcast episode of The Doctor's Farmacy, they examine the question of whether this trend is negatively impacting our health as a nation...
Research has shown that the simple habit of sitting down for a meal with loved ones on a consistent basis can directly improve our food choices, reduce the negative effects of stress, and even improve our body composition. It’s not just what we eat, but how we eat, and with whom we’re eating that can make all the difference in the world.
In this episode, Dr. Mark Hyman and author of the USA Today National bestseller Eat Smarter, Shawn Stevenson, discuss why family meals have gone by the wayside in the U.S., what we can do to bring them back, and "the power of food to bring families and communities together."
You'll learn about the impact that social connections have on our health (did you know that you are 171 percent more likely to be overweight if your friends are overweight?), why only 30% of American families eat together, and how eating together can protect our health.
They'll also discuss the prevalence of ultra-processed food in the modern diet, getting kids involved in preparing meals, smarter grocery shopping, and even some helpful meal prep tips to save time and make mealtimes both healthier and more enjoyable.
Check it out here!
You'll learn about the impact that social connections have on our health (did you know that you are 171 percent more likely to be overweight if your friends are overweight?), why only 30% of American families eat together, and how eating together can protect our health.
They'll also discuss the prevalence of ultra-processed food in the modern diet, getting kids involved in preparing meals, smarter grocery shopping, and even some helpful meal prep tips to save time and make mealtimes both healthier and more enjoyable.
Check it out here!
Episode Guide:
I hope this inspires you to sit down and eat together with your loved ones today - and make it a regular habit! Not only is it a lot enjoyable than eating by yourself staring at the TV, but it may even help you live a longer, healthier life.
To your health,
Rose.
- How our social connections determine our health (4:17 / 2:44)
- Research findings on families who eat together (10:16 / 5:53)
- How culture influences our cravings and choices (17:15 / 15:11)
- The prevalance of ultra-processed food in children’s diets (24:15 / 22:37)
- The disconnect in understanding how food affects our biology (32:03 / 28:20)
- Shawn’s journey away from primarily eating fast food and ultra-processed food (36:52 / 33:51)
- Research findings about eating alone (53:39 / 49:15)
- Environmental toxins in popular cookware and safer cookware options (56:18 / 52:20)
- How to implement family meals (1:03:25 / 59:20)
- Defining family beyond the traditional nuclear family (1:10:31 / 1:05:30)
I hope this inspires you to sit down and eat together with your loved ones today - and make it a regular habit! Not only is it a lot enjoyable than eating by yourself staring at the TV, but it may even help you live a longer, healthier life.
To your health,
Rose.
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