Eating Together & Shared Meals
GOAL: Show that sharing meals strengthens social bonds, builds trust, and improves emotional well-being.
KEYWORDS TO SEARCH: “communal eating,” “shared meals social connection,” “family meals mental health.”
EXAMPLE STUDY: Dunbar, R.I.M. (2017). Breaking Bread: The Functions of Social Eating. Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology.
Found: People who eat together more often have larger social networks, feel happier and more supported, and experience greater overall life satisfaction—highlighting how shared meals are essential for human connection and emotional health.
GOAL: Show that regular family meals promote healthier eating, stronger emotional bonds, and improved overall family well-being.
KEYWORDS TO SEARCH: “family meals wellbeing,” “shared meals emotional health,” “family dining relationships.”
EXAMPLE STUDY: Fulkerson, J.A., Larson, N., Neumark-Sztainer, D., et al. (2018). Family Meals Among Parents: Associations with Nutritional, Social, and Emotional Well-being. Public Health Nutrition.
FOUND: Regular family meals are linked to healthier eating habits, better emotional well-being, and stronger family relationships.
Because every shared meal feeds more than hunger
