Why eating with friends and family is good for your mental health
Correction: An earlier version of this story included information from a source whose expertise may not be valid. The quotes from the source have been removed.
If your mental health has taken a hit recently you're certainly not alone. Figures from Mind reveal approximately one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year.
While treatments can vary from medication to talking therapies, experts increasingly believe lifestyle changes could help improve our wellbeing and also aid in tackling mental health issues, including spending more time cooking and eating with our friends and family.
A recent poll from HelloFresh has revealed 85% of families are looking to dine together more often this year with a whopping (97%) of Brits claiming that sharing that food is the top source of happiness in their lives.
Further research from the University of Oxford found that the more often people eat with others, the more likely they are to feel happy and satisfied with their lives.
Using data from a national survey by The Big Lunch, the researchers looked at the link between social eating and an individual’s happiness, the number of friends they have, their connection to their community, and overall satisfaction with life.
The results suggest that communal eating increases social bonding and feelings of wellbeing, and enhances one’s sense of contentedness and embedding within the community.
The problem is that during our time-poor day to day lives cooking and eating together can often slip to the bottom of the priority list.
"We lead busy lives and so cooking and eating has, for some, become very functional, something that needs to be done so that we can move on to the next item on our to-do list," explains Alison Goolnik, integrative psychotherapist at www.therapyhere.co.uk
However, cooking and eating together has huge benefits on your mental health.
"The act of cooking is very therapeutic - cooking a dish from start to finish requires focus, patience and mindfulness," Goolnik continues.
"Whether following a recipe or making it from scratch, it gives a sense of achievement and accomplishment and therefore it is a great boost for your self-esteem."
Cooking together also creates a bond, which can strengthen relationships.
"Working together, with a shared purpose, gives you something to talk about, generates conversations and gives you a sense of belonging. This further boosts self-esteem and happiness." Goolnik adds.
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