There are so many versions of the couple that _insert something here_ stays together. What I have yet to hear is the couple that eats together stays together.

When life gets busy, as it so easily does, it can be so easy let eating together fall to the wayside instead of taking time to sit down and eat together. Being intentional about sitting down and eating together should be a priority opposed to a happy accident. There are so many benefits from taking the time to eat together.

“The couple that eats together stays together.”

Unknown or unattributed

While it may be fun to thrown down a tablecloth or runner and light a candle, but that is absolutely unnecessary. Simply be intentional about sitting down eating together, talking about how each other’s days were, what’s on their heart, and so on. The act of sitting down and enjoying a meal together allows you to remove distractions and focus on each other, your relationship, and obviously the food as well.

So, let’s get into the benefits and why you should be eating meals with your significant other.

Eating together allows for intentional time to connect.

Nowadays in such a fast-paced society it can be especially difficult to spend intentional time to nurture your relationship. Taking the time to simply sit down and eat with your partner creates the spaced for conversations and discussions that may otherwise not have happened or would have been rushed through. It allows you to continue to learn more about them as we are always changing and getting the joy of learning who our partners are becoming as well. By making it a point to eat together regularly, you are prioritizing your relationship above the other distractions of life. There are so many studies which have found people who eat with family, friends, or significant others feel more connected to them through the process of preparing and then enjoying said meal. ¹

Eating together encourages healthful and mindful eating practices.

If you are sitting down to eat with your partner without having a show on in the background or engulfed in your phone, you are going to naturally be more mindful of what you are eating. You likely will notice the flavors and textures more than you ever would have if you simply scarfed it down and went on about your day. Mindful eating has so many benefits, some of which include reduced overeating, increased enjoyment of food, and improved digestion.

Eating together improves the quality of the meal and your nutrition.

Generally speaking, most people will look for the easiest option when it comes to food if they are going to be eating alone. You may order food out, go get fast food, or just make the simplest meal you may have from your pantry. However, when you are planning a meal for two, people generally will put far more effort into the meal. People also have different food preferences which may allow each of you to venture out and try new foods you might have been otherwise opposed to before. There is also science showing that it may allow your body to enter into a parasympathetic state which allows for the digestion and absorption of nutrients.²

Eating together is destressing.

There was a study from the AHA (American Heart Association) that found the majority of adults would like to share a meal with other more often and that their family is less stressed when they share meals together. So even if you are family of two, you can benefit from carving out the time to eat together. I also believe you feel less stressed when you eat a meal with loved ones is because it gives you time to slow down and enjoy the meal both for its nutritional value and for the connection it provides.

These are just four benefits of eating together with your significant other, but I have heard of many others and intend to continue to find the research to back those up as well. For now, I hope you enjoyed this post and will consider prioritizing eating with your loved one without distractions.

As always, I hope you have a happy and wholesome day!

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