Do you like going to the restaurant alone? Discover what that might say about you

We all have different habits. Some of us like knitting while others love to hike. We know that these differences in tastes says a lot about who we are.

A tweet posted on 29 June 2023, has sparked an internet debate. The tweet has collected 183K likes and over 1500 responses. What is this tweet about you might ask?

The answer is: going to the restaurant alone.

In the responses, users are debating about whether eating alone in public is a sign of confidence or a sign of loneliness.

Let’s find out the truth...

Eating alone at a restaurant: The internet goes boom

The tweet that was shared on 29 June 2023 is a screenshot of an undated twitter exchange. Already this original tweet shows two opposing opinions.

On one hand one argues that eating alone is ‘another whole new level of loneliness’ while another opposes that view saying it ‘is a whole new level of CONFIDENCE.’

Read more: Binge eating: Here are the signs to watch out for

In the comment sectionthe debate has been thriving between Team Loneliness and Team Confidence.

One user from Team Loneliness, says:

Eating alone in a restaurant is like going to the movies alone It’s only for people with no friends

While, Team Confidence strikes back with a very concrete example:

Left my appointment early, Im early for work, have 45 minutes to kill. I go to a coney sit down enjoy my fish and chips while checking my emails and texts. In no way shape or form does that have anything to do with having friends or not. M* im hungry and not eating in my car.

But the debate doesn’t stop there. Thousands of people are sharing their experiences and opinion on whether or not they like eating alone.

If you can’t spend time with yourself to enjoy life then you needa work on yourself fr fr

Eating alone in a restaurant is another whole new level of dealing with being hungry.

I’ve made more friends over my life by eating alone and talking to servers, cooks and other guests than just about any other venue…it’s not lonely it’s about going into the world and listening to other’s stories and welcoming them into your life…I wouldn’t have it any other way

Eating alone could put you at risk for these health issues

While a Twitter debate is always interesting because it brings to light a lot of different experiences, when it comes to such a serious topic like loneliness it is interesting to look at concrete research.

In 2018, The Guardian published an article called ‘Is it true that eating alone is bad for you?’ In their article the publication puts forward varied research.

The first important thing to know here is that research in that field is not overflowing. However, it seems like research has found that eating alone could be linked to issues such as ‘depression, a blockage of blood supply to the heart, obesity and having metabolic syndrome.’

Survey finds eating alone impacts our diet and mood

A survey of over 8,000 people conducted by Oxford Economics and the National Centre for Social Research for Sainsbury’s ‘suggested eating alone has a stronger link to being unhappy than any other factor except mental illness.’

The research has also put into light the fact that eating alone impacts ‘how much we eat, what we eat, and our mood.’

We know that this first argument doesn’t look too great for Team Confidence but let’s dig deeper.

Dr Stephanie Cacioppo, a neurobiologist at the University of Chicago which The Guardian interviewed, encourages us to switch our perception of eating alone.

She says:

The real question is how you feel when you eat. Research shows that if you feel lonely when you eat – whether you are alone or at a business lunch – you will have a higher fat-calorie intake per meal

So whether you feel lonely or confident really does have an impact.

However, the most striking argument comes from Sam Dick of the Campaign to End Loneliness. Sam Dick differentiates choosing to eat alone and having to eat alone.

He says:

Choosing to eat alone is very different to having to eat alone. A moment of solitude to enjoy a solo dinner is not the same as not having someone to eat with on a regular basis, which is the case for many older people.

And he reminds us that,

Sharing a meal with others is one of the best ways to bond and build our connections.

So whether you are Team Loneliness or Team Confidence, it is important that you do what feels right for you.

Read more:

⋙ You could be eligible to get £691 if you have mental health issues

⋙ 5 surprising reasons why you should laugh everyday and it's not just for your mental health

Sources:

The Guardian: Is it true that eating alone is bad for you? https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jul/06/is-it-true-that-eating-alone-is-bad-for-you

Twitter