(Shared meals offset loneliness and improve people’s well-being, according to leading health authorities.)

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, Americans face a lack of social connection that poses a significant risk to individual health and longevity.

“Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk for premature death by 26 percent and 29 percent, respectively. More broadly, lacking social connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day,” the surgeon general states in a report.

One way to address this epidemic of loneliness is by sharing a meal with friends and family. Here are the benefits:

Togetherness and connectedness.

Shared meals can be the glue that holds people together. Studies demonstrate a positive relationship between family meal frequency and connectedness, communication, and problem-solving. The key is to engage in conversation with one another during mealtimes and take advantage of the one-on-one time without distractions or interruptions from smartphones or other devices.

Strengthen mental health.

An often overlooked benefit of shared meals is mental health support. Multiple studies show family meals have long been associated with improving mental health, including reducing symptoms of depression, decreasing violent behavior, and lessening thoughts of suicide among youth. Among adolescents, frequent family meals can help mitigate the risks of destructive behaviors by boosting pro-social behaviors and life satisfaction.

Improve nutrition.

Research shows family meals improve fruit and vegetable consumption. Overall, families who eat together frequently have a better overall healthy diet and lower body mass index.

Improve academic performance.

Students whose families eat together frequently perform better academically in areas such as reading and vocabulary. Such students also have lower incidents of risky and harmful behaviors, which may also contribute to school performance.

Civility.

The dinner table is a perfect place to show younger generations how to communicate respectfully and have civil conversations, according to the Family Meals Barometer.

More information is at familymealsmovement.org.