Food-related Activity Ideas for Family and Friends

We all need food. That is why food is the ultimate social connector. Whether it’s a simple meal shared with friends during break times or a hearty dinner prepared by a family member, food has the power to bring people together. 

Hangouts with friends

The mere practice of asking your friends out to eat is an act of creating community spaces. When everyone comes together to eat, differences are put aside during this shared experience, and the conversations the environment encourages are good points for social connection (Smith et al, 2021). Other than eating out, here are some ways to make your next gathering more enjoyable!

1. Potlucks

The potluck process of finding a suitable dish, preparing a meal and sharing it with your friends is a social ritual (Reddy et al, 2020). Such interpersonal behaviors foster familiarity and strengthen relationships (Gregersen, 2020). Some potluck themes can be bringing foods that start with your initials or assigning each person to a colour!

2. Charcuterie boards

You may have seen the trend of fancy charcuterie boards all over social media but beyond the challenge of pronouncing its name, how do you actually create one? Pieces of fruit, meat and cheese, along with condiments such as honey, on a communal board can easily create the masterpiece of a charcuterie board. Eating from the same plate promotes social cohesion (Jönsson et al, 2021) - sharing is caring!

Family time

Having meals with your family provides opportunities for communication and bonding, reinforcing family culture (Wallace et al, 2020). Here are some ways to further enhance these experiences!

1. Themed dinners 

Coming up with an interesting dinner theme for days of the week, such as Meatless Monday or Throwback Thursday, gives you something to look forward to during mealtimes! This can help to establish a routine for consistent family time (Fifner et al, 2019) and who knows, a new family tradition can be developed!

2. Family cooking

Switch things up in the kitchen by letting the younger ones wield the wok while giving parents some rest as they supervise! The involvement of the entire family in such a social activity is ideal for strengthening parent-child relationships, especially for younger children who get to be independent in making decisions (Tørslev, 2021). YouTube channels, such as Buzzfeed Tasty, can be a great source of inspiration and provide step-by-step instructions for the whole family to whip up a meal!

With all these ideas in mind, spice up your next mealtime with loved ones and connect over glorious, delectable food!

Written by: Shernice Feng

03/2024

References

Fifner, J. (2019, November 12). Family Mealtime: Routines and Rituals. Ohioline. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5249 

Gregersen, S. C., & Gillath, O. (2020, August 1). How food brings us together: The ties between attachment and food behaviors. Science Direct. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195666318312923  

Jönsson H, Michaud M, Neuman N. (2021, June 9) What Is Commensality? A Critical Discussion of an Expanding Research Field. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8295993/ 

Reddy, G., & Dam, R. M. van. (2020, June 1). Food, culture, and identity in Multicultural Societies: Insights from Singapore. Science Direct. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666319311602  

Smith, M., & Harvey, J. (2021, June 1). Social eating initiatives and the practices of commensality. Science Direct. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195666321000155  

Wallace R, Lombardi K, Backer C, Costello L, Devine A. (2020, January 16) Sharing is Caring: A Study of Food-Sharing Practices in Australian Early Childhood Education and Care Services. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019312/