How Eating Together will help you Reconnect to Friends/Family

With the way our busy lives are these days, it’s difficult to keep up with what’s happening in our own worlds. The demands of our phones and social media just add to that, whether it’s our children’s attention being caught or the ‘ping’ of a new notification from our own devices.

So, it might have been a while since you have had some quality time to catch up with your loved one, your family (close and extended) or even good friends. What can you do to get to know them again?

Mealtimes are when families gather together, so it is the perfect time for catching one another up on your lives. Do this regularly so it becomes a habit and even a tradition for you all.

Sitting down together is beneficial for you and your friends as well. You may not find much time to speak with an old friend, so it’s worth making the effort to meet up, talk and get to know each other again if you haven’t spoken in a while.

If you choose to meet up with a friend or family member you haven’t seen recently, make a date and keep to it. It’s harder to break a commitment when you have made plans, so see what day or time works for you both.

You don’t need to stay in to have a meal together, either. If you’re not sure about cooking or you have a large group, have a look into making a reservation somewhere. This means you get the benefits of eating together but without having to washing up afterwards!

If you do decide to eat out, even if it’s just for a family treat or celebration, make sure you pick somewhere that has different food options. Places such as The Flintgate Pub in Weybridge, Surrey, will have a variety of foods on offer to satisfy all dietary requirements, and you can usually have a look at the menu before you go.

If there are vegetarians and/or vegans in your party, you should be able to see what’s available to eat. If you aren’t sure or have any other questions about the food on offer, ask the staff for advice.

When you are together and sit down, make sure you limit your distractions. Stay off your phone, try not to think of other commitments and engage with the present. You may only have a short time together, so make the most of it while you’re there.

If you can, try to have a meaningful conversation with whoever you’re with. This may be difficult if you’re with someone you haven’t seen in years, but you would have been close once. Once you start opening up, your dining partner will do so too. Remember to listen to them and acknowledge what they say or have done.

So, see what you can do together over a meal. Whoever you’re with, you can get the rewards of spending great time together.

Thanks to Zaklina