Benefits of Eating Together

We all need to eat. So, meals could be a chance to stop what we're doing and spend time with the people in our lives.

我们都需要吃饭。所以，吃饭可能是一个停止我们正在做的事情，和我们生活中的人共度时光的机会。

But sometimes they are not.

但有时却不是。

It does not matter if a person is married or single; is a parent or not; is working or retired. 

一个人是已婚还是单身，是不是父母，是工作还是退休都无关紧要。

From time to time, we all eat last-minute meals alone. And, of course, eating alone at home or at a restaurant can be a very satisfying experience.

有时，我们都是在最后一分钟独自吃饭。当然，一个人在家或餐馆吃饭也是一种非常令人满意的体验。

However, could eating too many meals alone be bad for our health or affect our future success?

然而，太多独自一人吃饭会对我们的健康有害吗？或是会影响我们未来的成功？

Several studies show that it might for some people.

一些研究表明，对某些人来说可能是这样。

A recent study from a team of South Korean researchers suggests that frequently eating alone may lead to poor eating habits and poor food choices.

韩国一个研究小组最近的一项研究表明，经常单独进食可能导致不良的饮食习惯和不良的食物选择。

Specifically, the study found that men who ate alone more than twice a week had a greater risk of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

具体来说，研究发现，每周单独进食两次以上的男性患高血压、高胆固醇和糖尿病的风险更大。

Benefits of family dinners on children and teenagers

家庭聚餐对儿童和青少年的好处

For children, eating with their families is not only about preventing bad outcomes – it is also about developing good ones.

对孩子们来说，和家人一起吃饭不仅是为了防止坏的结果，也是为了培养好的结果。

Several studies have looked at the long-term effects eating with families has on a child. 

有几项研究观察了与家人一起吃饭对孩子的长期影响。

Experts say that these studies do not seem to prove a cause-and-effect relationship. However, they do suggest a strong correlation, or link.

专家说，这些研究似乎并不能证明因果关系。然而，它们确实暗示了一种很强的相关性或联系。

In 2014, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) looked at data from nearly three-quarters of the world's countries. 

2014年，经济合作与发展组织（经合组织）查看了全球近四分之三国家的数据。

Among its findings was the fact that students who shared a main meal with their families were less likely to skip school.

该研究发现，与家人共餐的学生不太可能逃学。

Children who eat a main meal with their families are also less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.

与家人一起吃饭的孩子也不太可能滥用毒品和酒精。

That was a finding of a study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University in New York. 

这是纽约哥伦比亚大学国家成瘾和药物滥用中心（casa）的一项研究发现。

The 2012 CASA report found that "family dinners were strongly linked to teen substance use prevention."

2012年的CASA报告发现，“家庭聚餐与青少年药物使用预防密切相关。”

In the report, titled "The Importance of Family Dinners (VIII)," researchers say that "teens who have frequent family dinners are more likely to say their parents know a lot about what's...going on in their lives ..."

在这篇题为“家庭聚餐的重要性（viii）”的报告中，研究人员说，“经常参加家庭聚餐的青少年更可能说他们的父母知道很多关于他们生活中发生的事情……”

They also claim that when teens say they feel closer to their parents, they are less likely to use drugs and alcohol.

他们还声称，当青少年说他们感觉离父母更近时，他们不太可能吸毒和酗酒。

Another study from the University of Montreal found that children who ate with their families experience long-term physical and mental health benefits. 

蒙特利尔大学的另一项研究发现，与家人一起吃饭的孩子会经历长期的身心健康益处。

These children were physically in better shape and drank fewer sugary soft drinks. These children also seemed to have better social skills and self-reported that they were less aggressive.

这些孩子身体状况较好，喝的含糖软饮料较少。这些孩子似乎也有更好的社交能力和自我报告说，他们没有那么咄咄逼人。

One of the researchers involved in this study is a professor of psychoeducation at the university.

参与这项研究的一位研究员是该大学的一位心理教育教授。

Linda Pagani says that there is "a handful of research suggesting a positive link between eating family meals together frequently and child and adolescent health."

琳达·帕加尼说，“有少数研究表明经常一起吃家庭餐与儿童和青少年健康之间存在着积极的联系。”

Pagani says that mealtimes shared with parents "likely provide young children with firsthand social interaction, discussions of social issues and day-to-day concerns." She adds that they may likely help the child have better communications skills with others.

帕加尼说，与父母共享的用餐时间“可能为幼儿提供第一手的社交互动、社会问题的讨论和日常关注。”她补充说，这可能有助于孩子更好地与他人沟通。

Ways to eat together more

多在一起吃饭的方法

If you find too many of your mealtimes to be lonely events, experts at the Mental Health Foundation in the U.K. suggest making small changes.

如果你发现太多的吃饭时间是孤独的事件，英国心理健康基金会的专家建议做一些小的改变。

Its website says to make room for at least one shared meal a week. And keep it simple. Even if dinner is a salad and a sandwich, it is still time for a family to be together.

该公司的网站称，每周至少为一顿共享餐腾出空间。保持简单。即使晚餐是一份沙拉和一份三明治，一家人还是该聚在一起了。

If mornings are less busy than evenings, start by making breakfast your shared meal.

如果早晨比晚上不忙，那就从做早餐开始。

If you live alone, reach out to those in your social circle or neighborhood. Once a month potluck dinners where everyone brings a dish could be an easy way to start.

如果你一个人住，就去接触你的社交圈或邻居。一个月一次的聚餐，每个人都带一道菜，这可能是一个简单的开始。

If you work in an office, step out with a co-worker for a bite to eat every once in a while, instead of eating at your desk every day.

如果你在办公室工作，偶尔和同事出去吃点东西，而不是每天在办公桌前吃饭。

Or you could simply schedule time in your week to share a cup of coffee or tea with a friend.

或者你可以在一周内安排时间和朋友一起喝杯咖啡或茶。