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Cooking and eating together: a connection that matters..

By Sally Evans

Over the last month we have focused a lot in our posts on the importance of healthy eating. But this blog is about ‘how’ we eat, not ‘what’ we eat!

Food is an essential part of our lives, and it can play a crucial role in our relationships and our wellbeing. Eating together with others and making food together is so important for building and maintaining relationships, as well as promoting good wellbeing and mental health. We often enjoy going out and socialising with friends over a meal, but are we finding the time to do this with our families?

How often do we sit down and eat with family?

Has eating together gone out of fashion in your family?

Do you struggle to find the time to eat together?

Eating together creates an opportunity for social connection and strengthens relationships. It allows us to spend time with others and share experiences, creating a sense of community and belonging. Eating together can also promote positive communication and bonding, as we share stories, laughter, and meaningful conversations over a meal. Asking questions about our day shows we are curious; we care and really value each other.

Making food together is also an important aspect of building relationships and promoting good wellbeing. Cooking with others can be a fun and collaborative experience that fosters teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving. It also allows us to learn from each other and share our knowledge and skills, which can be empowering and inspiring.

Furthermore, the act of cooking and preparing food can be therapeutic and provide a sense of accomplishment and pride. It can also be a mindful activity that promotes relaxation and reduces stress and anxiety. There are so many benefits from the practise of cooking, if we could stop seeing it as a chore!

So why not have a go at cooking and eating together this week? You may just learn something new and have some fun!

Sally is Founder of LifeBuddy, an Organisational Psychologist and Certified Principal Business Psychologist