For those of us who love eating peanut butter straight out of the jar (guilty as charged), it might sound strange, but a new UK survey by Oxford Economics has revealed regularly eating meals alone is the biggest single factor for unhappiness.
Only people with a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety had lower rates of happiness.
Even those who were heavy drinkers or were unemployed said their happiness was higher.
So why is sharing meals so important to our wellbeing?
At a basic psychological level, having friends just makes you happier. Then there’s the things you do around a table – like sharing food and enjoying a drink and a laugh. These are good at triggering the endorphin system, which helps to manage pain in the brain.
It makes sense to us. Previous studies have already shown loneliness is one of the biggest contributors to physical and mental health problems.
The survey even found talking to your neighbours was associated with higher happiness (maybe not my neighbours).
For older people who live alone however, it’s not always easy to find someone to enjoy a meal with. There are meal delivery services such as Meals in Wheels that can provide a chat along with a hot meal.
We think it’s worth checking in on neighbours and friends who live alone to see if they want some company too – it could make you both feel better.
