Many people know very well what it means to eat in company. Lunch or dinner (or both) is a moment of intense conviviality. And not only because we generally love being together, but also because they are children of the Mediterranean diet. What does this mean? That one of the principles on which the famous food pyramid we all know is based is precisely that of conviviality. This alone should be enough to make us understand that it has been widely studied how being together is a moment that helps our physical and mental well-being. But let's take a closer look at the other research that supports this theory.
The Importance for Children
As everyone knows by now, family is considered one of the fundamental pillars of an individual's life. It is the first source of socialization with which children come into contact, from which they learn behavior, values, and lifestyles. Growing up in a stimulating and interactive environment is crucial for healthy development. In this context, moments of conviviality are essential.
According to a four-year Canadian study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, eating together – also understood as a moment of exchange and dialogue – helps children develop greater psychophysical balance and stimulate positive behavior. The results of the research, which involved children aged 6 and their families up to the age of 10, showed that being with their families during meals helps children increase their biopsychosocial well-being, achieve excellent levels of physical fitness, avoid excessive consumption of soft drinks and fast food, and avoid developing aggressive behavior.
The More, The Merrier
Of course, eating together isn't just beneficial for children: many studies confirm that adults also need this moment of conviviality for a happier and more peaceful life. Being together appears to boost the production of serotonin, responsible for a good mood, and lower levels of cortisol, the so-called stress hormone.
Research conducted by Oxford Economics shows how eating together has positive effects on people. A survey of 8,250 British citizens, which created a Living Well Index, calculated by adding scores on certain parameters such as sleep quality, amount of free time, and so on, showed that eating alone leads to a 7.9-point reduction in happiness.
Eating together helps us feel happier and more satisfied with our lives: an important moment of conviviality that also helps strengthen our social relationships. This is the underlying theory behind an analysis of 148 epistemological studies, which demonstrated how sharing meals fosters a greater propensity to trust others, a more developed and solid network of friends, and, therefore, can be considered a mechanism that facilitates social bonds. This aspect should not be underestimated for a person's quality of life. In fact, it seems that having a strong social network increases life expectancy by 50%. The researchers state that, based on their findings, the influence of social relationships on the risk of death is comparable to alcohol consumption and smoking and is greater than other factors such as obesity and physical inactivity.
Pasta Also Has a Special Role
It's not just who we eat with that matters, but also what we eat. And that's what Professor Vincenzo Russo of the Neuromarketing Research Center at IULM University asked himself, conducting research into the ways in which pasta can make us happy. According to the Pasta Experience project, consuming this type of food induces a cognitive-emotional state comparable to doing our favorite activities, such as listening to music or playing sports. But that's not all: eating our favorite plate of pasta can bring back happy memories, such as moments spent with family or friends. In short, pasta is a true source of happiness. And so, for the love of science, all you have to do is prepare a delicious plate of pasta.
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