你喜不喜歡一個人吃飯？雖然有不少人和文章關注討論獨自吃飯的消極一面，但這種飲食方式可能也有它積極的一面。本期節目帶你了解獨自就餐的好處。

詞匯：food 食物

Should you eat to live or live to eat?... a question posed by French playwright Moliere in his work ‘The Miser’. While eating is functional, and our bodies need the fuel that food provides, dining with friends or loved ones can be a wonderful experience. However, some of us often find ourselves reserving a table for one in a restaurant. But is dining alone really that bad? Maybe not.

We all have foods we like and dislike. Maybe it’s a pungent cheese or stinky fish. We sometimes hold back on things that may offend the noses of others. When dining alone, we can consume whatever we like, with the added bonus that we might be able to eat more healthily. Often, if you want a salad and your significant other wants some less healthy cuisine, you end up ordering the same. And if you don’t get the same, you might end up with food envy as you watch someone chow down on a pizza while you’re left holding the lettuce.

Have you ever spent too long debating with people which restaurant to eat in or when to meet? If dining solo, you can make the choice depending on your culinary desires at that moment and get your nourishment at exactly the time you’re hungry! And why does it have to be a restaurant? You could eat in a park, garden or even your bed – the point is, the choice is yours! That alone time also means it’s a time to switch off. According to psychologist Sherrie Bourg Carter, a bit of solitude can help your brain to unwind and may help you concentrate more.

Finally, for some, dining alone can be a necessity. For those of us who suffer from misophonia, a hatred of sound, that can in some cause PTSD, the noise of someone else masticating can be unbearable. Eating alone can save you from the extreme anxiety that may arise listening to someone smack their lips or the sloshing of saliva in their mouths! So, is eating alone bad? Well, it may not be for everyone, but there certainly are some benefits to it. Try it sometime – you might just like it!

詞匯表

fuel 燃料，這里比喻食物所提供的能量
dine 用餐，吃飯
reserve 訂位，預約
pungent （氣味或味道）強烈刺鼻的
stinky 難聞的，臭的
consume （大量地）吃，喝
cuisine 菜肴
order 點菜
food envy 嫉妒其他人在吃的美味菜肴
chow down 吃掉
dine solo 獨自就餐
culinary 飲食方面的，食物的
nourishment 營養，提供營養的食物
masticate 咀嚼
smack one’s lips （吃東西時）咂嘴
saliva 口水

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. Why do we sometimes hold back from eating our favourite foods with others?

2. What can cause food envy?

3. Where can you eat if dining alone?

4. What are the potential benefits of some moments of solitude?

5. What are the effects of chewing sounds on people with misophonia?

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. Stop _______ your lips! It sounds disgusting!

chowing down               smacking                         nourishment             saliva

2. Wow! Your food looks amazing. I think I have _______.

nourishment                  culinary                            food envy                  masticate

3. He’s amazing in the kitchen – he makes some _______ delights!

culinary                         masticate                         consume                    dine

4. Your fish has a very strong smell. It’s really _______. 

masticate                       saliva                               food envy                   pungent

5. I am so hungry – I’m just going to _______ on this food.

chow down                    culinary                            saliva                          nourishment

答案

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。  

1. Why do we sometimes hold back from eating our favourite foods with others?
We sometimes avoid eating our favourite smelly foods with others as we are worried about offending their noses.

2. What can cause food envy?
Not eating the same food as someone else and thinking their food looks better.

3. Where can you eat if dining alone?
Wherever you want! That’s one of the biggest benefits.

4. What are the potential benefits of some moments of solitude?
You relax and it may help you to concentrate.

5. What are the effects of chewing sounds on people with misophonia?
Chewing sounds can cause anxiety or even PTSD in people with misophonia.

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. Stop smacking your lips! It sounds disgusting!

2. Wow! Your food looks amazing. I think I have food envy.

3. He’s amazing in the kitchen – he makes some culinary delights!

4. Your fish has a very strong smell. It’s really pungent. 

5. I am so hungry – I’m just going to chow down on this food.