October is Eat Better, Eat Together Month. It is a time to recognize the importance of slowing down in your day-to-day life to reset, eat nutritious foods, and — most importantly — spend quality time with your loved ones. 

Our society encourages a fast-paced lifestyle: wake up, go to work, eat lunch (sometimes by yourself), go home, prepare for the next day, go to sleep, and do it all over again the next day. This way of living can have detrimental effects, both on our physical and mental health. Recent data suggests that about 20% of Americans eat meals in their car and 25% eat at least one fast food meal a day (Oliveira, 2018). Additionally, roughly 25% of Americans eat all their meals alone, especially young people (De Neve et al., 2025). Such a lifestyle can strip us of the opportunity to sit down with loved ones to enjoy a wholesome meal with each other. 

The Family Dinner Project lists the multiple benefits of eating together as a family for children, which includes improved academic performance, a better sense of self, and a more nutritious diet (The Family Dinner Project, n.d.). Such benefits also extend to adults, with better nutrition and lower risk of depression being among the benefits of eating meals together (The Family Dinner Project, n.d.).  

This month, try to find ways to eat food in a communal setting. For example, if you live with your family, try to eat at least one meal together per week (or more if you are feeling up for it!). If you are on your lunch break at work, ask a coworker if they’d like to eat with you. For your days off, create time to spend with your friends by going out to eat at a restaurant or, even better, invite them over to prepare a meal together. Try out this simple, Afrocentric meal that creates a soup out of collard greens, black eyed peas, and sweet potatoes. This would be a great meal to make with the family, too! 

Eating meals with your loved ones encourages better eating habits, better relationships with those close to you, and, of course, a better understanding of yourself, your wants, and your needs. Let the encouragement to engage in communal settings seep into your everyday life, instilling a sense of belonging in your spirit.

References 
Benefits of Family Dinners. (n.d.). The Family Dinner Project. https://thelydinnerproject.org/about-us/benefits-of-family-dinners/ 

De Neve, J., Dugan, A., Kaats, M., Prati, A. (2015). Sharing meals with others: How sharing meals supports happiness and social connections. World Happiness Report. https://www.worldhappiness.report/ed/2025/sharing-meals-with-others-how-sharing-meals-supports-happiness-and-social-connections/ 

Oliveira, R. (2018, October 7). Eat Better, Eat Together. Plant-Based Life Foundation. https://pblife.org/lifestyle/eat-better-eat-together/ 

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This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — SNAP. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.