Do you always feel completely alone, especially at dinner time? Do you often miss the days where you and your family are enjoying a hot porridge or a savory and tender beef steak? Don't fret; according to statistics, you are not going through this alone.
"46 percent of adult eating occasions are completely alone..." explains Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD, who is one of the experts and writers of the online health blog Shape. The expert also narrates several reasons why the numbers of adults eating alone are increasing dramatically. According to Rizzo, these are some of the reasons behind: the increase in numbers of single-parent households and people who prefer to live alone, the busy and hectic work schedules, and the increase of desire to engage in technology rather than other things, situations or people.
Though you might think that eating alone can help you become more observant of every food you consume, experts claim otherwise. According to them, eating alone can never be beneficial. A recent study even unveils the connection of eating alone to gaining weight, poorer health state, and poorer eating habits.
Eating with some friends makes us more mindful of what we eat compared to when we are consuming our favorite meal alone, explained in Body and Soul. If someone is observing our every move, especially while eating, we tend to limit our consumption, thinking it's more proper than indulging the entire meal.
Additionally, eating with someone who is also conscious of his health can also affect your food choices and the amount of food you consume too. This means you are more likely to eat unhealthy junk foods or consume a lot of quantity since you are conforming socially, which is a great step to control your cravings.
On the other hand, eating alone could make you yearn for food more. Did you notice how you crave for more chips while watching your favorite TV series? This is because eating alone can make you more prone to distractions. When distracted, especially while eating, your body will not be able to focus on your food anymore. This makes you crave for more food and increase your chance of gaining weight.
Given these reasons, experts suggest not to eat alone and be with people who can influence you to eat healthily. But since it is almost impossible for this to happen to some, experts say embracing a healthier diet and by limiting the consumption of high-calorie and high-sodium meals can already be a great alternative. Mediterranean diet is one of the best they recommend the most.
