British Dietetic Association member Kirsten Jackson explores the importance of sharing a meal together, not only as something that is deeply rooted in many cultures and religions but something that connects us and can be beneficial to physical and mental health.

What does food mean to you?

At its most basic level, food can be considered as fuel and even social media might make the population believe that this should be their only connection with it.

This oversimplified outlook often leads to concern around the impact on someone’s health when we think about Ramadan, with the meals we break fast with often being heavier or including higher sugar and fat foods than we would typically recommend consuming.

This one-dimensional look does not consider the health benefits of food during this time. Firstly, we need to look at the simple act of sharing meal times with others.

When we look across all cultures, the act of sharing food is considered one of intimacy and often connected with spirituality. Whether breaking fast during Ramadan as a Muslim, sharing bread and wine as a Christian or a Shabbat meal on a Friday as a Jew, the act of sharing meal times is something that is deeply rooted in all cultures and religions.

Even those who would class themselves as atheist or humanist, enjoy the simple act of sharing food together, whether it be dinner parties or bringing a home baked cake to work. Why? Because humans are not basic creatures and need connection. 

With social isolation, loneliness and rates of depression on the rise, sharing meals can be a simple way to connect with others. Eating takes time, so we naturally begin chatting, which can potentially lead to connections that last beyond that one meal. 

Eating with others has also been shown to reduce the risk of obesity as we often eat more slowly and mindfully, enjoying the experience rather than just eating the fuel. This also helps our digestive system by triggering our parasympathetic nervous system, allowing our gut to  relax and function as optimally as possible.

Then, if we consider the types of food someone may make for us or vice versa, they are more likely to be made from scratch and less likely to be processed, making the meal have more nutritional value than maybe something you would have consumed on your own.

So yes, there are some foods we need to be mindful not to over consume which are high in sugar and fat. But overall, the act of coming together and sharing food is extremely beneficial for both physical and mental health!