5 Ways to Enjoy Eating Solo at Home

Eating with others can help us slow down, enjoy our meals more, and possibly even lose weight. But, if you live by yourself like I do, a table filled with family and friends is more often the stuff of TV shows than daily life.

During the pandemic, solo dining is even more prevalent. Remember the days when you could meet friends at your favorite restaurant and host dinner parties? Hopefully those days will return soon but even when they do, many of us will still be eating by ourselves a lot of the time.

How do we master the art of a table for one?

A few years ago, I tried getting in the spirit of what I’d read was a “proper” way to eat alone. I set a beautiful table, lit candles, used my best dishes, and avoided distractions like my usual dinnertime companion, a Warriors game. The table looked Pinterest worthy but when I sat down to eat I felt… silly, like I was wearing someone else’s clothes. I could see doing it once in a while, but not every night.

I wanted to be more intentional about eating so instead of abandoning the idea altogether, I found some new ways to slow it down and appreciate this daily ritual. Some are counter to what is usually advised about uni-tasking while you eat, but these options work better for me. Maybe they'll work for you, too.

READ

I love reading while I eat, especially inspirational books, poetry, and anything else that benefits from contemplation. During the rest of the day I don’t often make time for this type of reading, so mealtimes are a good way to work through pause-and-reflect books and articles. I give each activity its own time and space by putting the book or magazine down while I eat, so I don’t end up eating mindlessly as I read.

WRITE

I write a lot during the day but still enjoy using mealtimes to process the noise in my head. Sometimes I jot notes about a project I want to tackle, a trip I want to take, what I’m grateful for, or simply my thoughts on the day. Using meal times to write and reflect is a nice change of pace that gives a rhythm to the meal and helps me slow down and enjoy it more.

GO OUTSIDE

I love to eat on the front porch or backyard patio and linger long enough to enjoy the change of scenery. Last summer, I was having breakfast on my covered patio when a sudden downpour fell from the sky. It was loud and powerful and glorious and I felt as though Mother Nature was putting on a show just for me.

It's amazing how much activity goes on just a few feet away from the dining room table, from birds flitting from tree to tree to squirrels chasing each other along power lines. Being part of it moves my attention from my head to the world around me and leaves me feeling calmer yet more energized.

EAT IN COURSES

When I get in the one-pot-meal doldrums, I’ll switch it up with the French habit of eating in courses. Having a simple entree, followed by a salad, and then a decadent piece of cheese and some fruit naturally slows the pace and makes me more aware of the taste of each dish.

Eating in courses also encourages me to eat smaller portions knowing there is more to come. By the end of the meal, I'm usually satisfied with less food than if I'd eaten everything together.

ALONE, TOGETHER

Before I moved near family, my sister and I did something we called “sister supper.” Each week, one of us would choose a recipe and on sister supper day, we would FaceTime during the meal, always showing each other how our version had turned out. Even with a 2-hour time difference it was a fun way to share a meal, catch up with each other, and expand our culinary skills.

Living alone gives us the advantage of only having to please ourselves with what, when, and how we eat. The other side of the coin is that eating alone can become boring and even depressing.

If you’re in a solo dining rut like I was, I encourage you to find some new mealtime rituals that leave you feeling not just full, but truly nourished.

If you enjoyed this article, please give it a ‘like’ below and pass it on to other solo diners. Thank you!