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New Orleans, Louisiana - Eating together does more than make people happier—it can help us all be healthier, especially around the holidays.

Conviviality—eating with good company—creates a joyous atmosphere around food that reminds us to honor the food and the people eating it as well as those who grew, harvested, cooked, and served it.

But conviviality can be tough in today’s world. With countless apps that allow for home delivery of nearly any grocery or restaurant item, it’s easy to eat at home. When diners do visit restaurants, they’re now more likely to do it alone: The online restaurant reservation site OpenTable said bookings by solo diners jumped by 80 percent between 2014 and 2018 in New York City. Restaurants across Canada saw a similar spike, with OpenTable reporting an 85 percent increase in reservations for one between 2015 and 2017. In fact, in 2014, nearly half of all meals eaten by adults in the U.S. were alone.

The importance of conviviality has been recognized for hundreds of years, particularly by cultures surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. “Eating together is the foundation of the cultural identity and continuity of communities throughout the Mediterranean basin,” UNESCO declares. “The Mediterranean diet emphasizes values of hospitality, neighborliness, intercultural dialogue and creativity, and a way of life guided by respect for diversity. It plays a vital role in cultural spaces, festivals, and celebrations, bringing together people of all ages, conditions and social classes.”

Convivial experiences are not unique to the Mediterranean, though. No matter what you’re eating, paying special attention to the food on your table and the people who brought it to you, sharing stories and recipes, and getting to know other people over a shared meal can break down social divisions and strengthen our food system.

This season, Food Tank is highlighting strategies to bring the spirit of conviviality to your table: