Despite the advice of self-help books and mindfulness coaches, when we have a meal completely to ourselves, we rarely enjoy the singular task of just eating with all our attention on the food. Most of us have at least one other companion at the table with us and usually that companion is an inanimate but distracting object in the form of TV or the newspaper.
For human beings, eating is usually a very social activity, and while solo eating is on the rise in the West, it is still unusual. Most of the time we take our meals with loved ones or friends and colleagues. So when we find ourselves alone at mealtime, it's not unusual to try and fill in the silence. Sometimes it's the chatter of a TV, or the words in a book or newspaper. Or maybe we multi-task by eating our lunch at our desks with our email up and running. Eating alone in public is almost always in the company of a book or newspaper or taken at the bar where the TV and other singular diners provide company and distraction.
If you are interested in try to eat with less distraction, you may want to take a look at this article that ran yesterday in the New York times: Mindful Eating as Food for Thought.
When was the last time you sat at the table and just ate your meal in total silence. Just you and the taste of the food? Did you enjoy it or were you bored?
Related: Judith Jones Makes an Omelet for One
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Sometimes a magazine, sometimes nothing - preferably if there's a view.
Depends - a book, the TV, my computer. (Although I chose "computer" in the survey, seems to me the distraction I choose most often these days.)
I love to read a newspaper or a good magazine while I am eating alone. I spend all day in front of a computer and eat two meals in front of one during the workweek so prefer not to do the same at home. One thing I never do-watch TV.
I so rarely get the chance to eat alone these days, that when I do I savor as much of it as I can. It's usually out though, so it's harder to not be distracted by other diners, etc. I am getting better however at just focusing on my little table and my meal.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way, but I have a hard time motivating myself to cook when it's just me! I love cooking, but doing it for myself always seems silly when I could just stand in the kitchen and give up and go eat an apple and some peanut butter and call it a night. (Which is of course silly in and of itself, but I just can't ever do it!)
I'm with GumShoeGracie, I rarely cook when I am alone. Maybe I will poach an egg or make a fried-egg sandwich...but that is the extent. Usually I will just heat up leftovers or pick at something. If I do eat a meal, I sit at the dining table and read my book.
I answered computer but normally I'm watching TV on it (Hulu).
I work from home so I usually just heat up something rather than cook.
I used to turn on the TV (bad idea since it's easy to lose track of how much you're eating) or read. Recently I set a wing chair at a window looking into the rear garden and, if I'm dining alone, I've come to enjoy eating there and watching the birds fly around the trees - a far more enjoyable meal than eating while watching TV.
It depends...if it is at home on my day off (my house cleaning day) I eat my lunch with the tv on in the background, but attempt to eat mindfully. When I am at a restaurant alone (actually a special treat to myself when this happens and is at a small cafe), I like to people watch and have my nose in and out of a book. Even though I am hopefully YEARS away from being on my own (when I lose my spouse, if she happens to precede my in our world departure) I bought Judith Jones' book on cooking for one. I don't want to lose my interest and enjoyment for cooking if I am on my own and want it to continue to give me joy, as well as nourishment. Love the article and the blog post...good food for thought!
Normally I have npr on after work while cooking/eating. I live by myself and have been eating healthier which usually means home alone.
It sort of bugs me that there's this idea that it's "wrong" or "sad" to eat with the tv on or reading or on the computer, especially if you're on your own. The way I see it, I have one thing that I enjoy, which is maybe catching a show I like or reading something I like, and another thing I enjoy, which is eating some food, and I think it's fine to combine them. Sure it changes when you're with other people, and sometimes it's nice to eat quietly with no distractions. But basically, if it wasn't enjoyable, I wouldn't be doing it.
My roommate and I also usually eat in front of the tv, and we enjoy it. Sometimes we eat at the table, but usually not. When I'm tempted to feel bad that we're not having "quality" meal time, I remember we spend so much time together there's nothing really new to catch up on - haha.
I said "computer," but it really depends on the meal. I tend to catch up on the news (on the computer) while eating breakfast. Lunch alone is sometimes distraction free, somtimes with a book, or sometimes watching TV (again, on the computer).
Breakfast at home, I usually sit in a favorite chair and just eat my oatmeal!
Lunch at home, I will sit at the dining table & leaf thru a magazine but nothing more demanding than that.
Dinner, most nights, I eat in front of the TV but not always. I wish I had other people to eat dinner with, but I live alone and it's not practical to go hunting up people for every meal. I do pay attention to my food, and I DO cook myself a real dinner every single night. I rarely ever eat out. That way it is a big treat when I do.
One of the great pleasures in life, for me, is getting to eat a nice meal and enjoy a good book UNINTERRUPTED. I liked this when I lived alone; I LOVE this now that I have a young child. Whether I'm home alone at lunch time on a Saturday because her dad took her to a birthday party, or I'm at a nice cafe in the evening because he's doing school pick up and I've got a free evening, I love love love to eat alone. And read. And all that precious focus-on-your-food, chew-56-times-minimum is just boring.
All of my meals are alone. I eat at the dining room table all the same, but usually with my laptop there and I have a beautiful view of my backyard. So my attention is usually back and forth, though I chose computer in the poll. Occasionally I might have the TV going to listen to while cooking/eating, but that's a rarity these days.
Breakfast and lunch are though right in front of the computer as I am working and eating in my office during the week. On the weekends, I am usually having cereal in front of the TV, though lunch back at the dining room table.
Not the most exciting personal story. :P
I eat most dinners alone since The Fella works nights. On good nights, I indulge myself, relishing something that only I like, whether it's a great big salad or a plate of chicken livers (or a big salad and a plate of chicken livers, swoon!) or watching David Lynch movies in the dark while I scarf down popcorn for dinner.
On not-so-great nights, it's just me, the laptop, and a plate of whatever cobbled-together stuff I'm pretending is a good dinner. But even then, it can be a solitary pleasure: I love ploughman's lunch plates and pick-up suppers; a chunk of cheese, some bread, some fruit, and some olives makes me very happy, and I'm doubly happy that no one else is there, politely pretending to find it satisfying.
I work from home so I usually have breakfast and lunch at the computer. Can't remember the last time I took a REAL lunch break and sat in silence enjoying my food. Something to consider changing.
Most of our dinners are enjoyed together. However, on the odd night when I am alone, I pull up a chair for the cat, who will often sit and keep me company!
I listen to NPR radio usually
It's very rare, so I enjoy it and don't want to distract myself.
This
A magazine, because it stays open easier than a book. It's also easier to look at pictures than read a book while eating, since one has to glance back at the plate so often.
I chose computer, but I'll also read a book or magazine depending on my mood.
@GUMSHOEGRACIE, unfortunately for those of us who are single, if we never felt motivated to cook for one, we might rarely eat homemade food
I watch TV while I eat because it's passive. Then when I'm not eating, I'm free to clean, exercise, read. I occasionally read while I eat, but it's just so much easier to hold the book with two hands on the bed or a couch than balance it with one at the table.
Paper newspaper--so whenI drop crumbs or spill on it, cleanup will be easy!
I have no problem eating alone in silence at home or at a restaurant. My problem is that I find when I don't have a distraction, I end up eating too quickly. When you dine with other people, the talking slows you down, but if you aren't talking, I like to read to prevent me from eating too quickly. I actually enjoy the food much more this way.
Often computer, but I have started eating my first meal of the day with the newspaper sudoku puzzle.
I concentrate on the flavor of the food as it breaks upon my tongue. Ohhh...sooo good!
It depends -- sometimes a computer, sometimes a book or magazine, sometimes the TV (but not very often).
Usually, the radio -- CBC1.
I listen to music on 8tracks or grooveshark.
I must have music playing while I eat at the table.
As I always eat alone, I know that I have to cook no matter what, and knowing that I have time with just my food and music is something to look forward to every day.
I like to listen to the radio or play with my phone, but I don't always need to be distracted.
A meal alone is a moment of personal time. Sometimes I look out the window at my garden or other views, or pet a cat, or consider the comforts of home. In a restaurant, I like to watch others and make up stories about them, or just daydream. In either instance, I make a point of savoring my food. Food is amazing, why not enjoy it!
And I love to eat alone because it means I can make whatever the heck I want. Chocolate chip cookies are totally a legitimate dinner, right?
I do crossword puzzles while I eat.
I put tv, since I usually do that... But I also do my homework while eating supper, more often than not.