Eating al fresco – in other words, eating outside – has become a big part of our culture. It’s something that feels very special and is different to what we do most of the rest of the time. However, perhaps it shouldn’t be saved as a treat or special occasion anymore; perhaps eating al fresco should become ‘the norm’. Here are some reasons why this might be a great way to live from now on.
More Room
When you are eating in your yard, you can spread out much more than you can inside. There is just so much more room, that even if you have a large grill area complete with outside kitchen and outdoor grill cabinet, there is still going to be space to move around in and not get in anyone’s way. When you think of the spaces other than your yard you can eat in and on – beaches, parks, forests, and so on – you’ll see there is even more space for everyone to be comfortable yet still be together.
When you are inside, it can be hard to get together in the kitchen to help with the cooking or entertaining. Often, one person gets left out, and no one feels completely comfortable. Outside it’s a different story, there is room for everyone to join in.
Eat Less
When we’re eating inside, we often eat a lot more than we should. This is usually because we are not paying attention to the food on our plates; we are watching TV or listening to music and eating almost automatically. We don’t realize when we are full, and this not only means we become uncomfortable, but it also means we gain weight.
When we eat outside, this is less likely to happen. If we’re with other people, the fact that we’re talking to them and enjoying their company actually means that we tend to eat more slowly, taking time between bites to speak. Therefore, we allow our bodies the chance to let us know when we’re full. If we’re eating alone, being outside in nature means there are no distractions, and we don’t eat on autopilot, so again we eat less than we might inside.
Relaxation
Relaxation is a good thing, and something we should all do a lot more often. When we’re eating outside, not only are we helping our physical bodies by eating, but we’re helping our mental health by taking some much-needed time out to truly relax.
When you’re outside, you can forget about work and any home troubles you have. You can forget about everything that is worrying you and just enjoy the outside for what it is, along with a picnic or a barbecue. When you do go back to ‘real-life’, you will feel more at ease, more relaxed, and more able to deal with any issues that come your way.
Nostalgia
If you look back to your childhood, you likely ate outside a lot more than you do now as an adult. It’s something that children do without even thinking about it, taking a snack with them on an adventure, or eating a picnic in their own backyard.
Yet adults don’t do this. There are specific rules in place, or so it seems, that means they shouldn’t take their lunch outside, and they shouldn’t make themselves a picnic. These rules don’t really exist; they’re just conventions that have built up over time. If you want to enjoy some nostalgia, take your lunch into the yard or to the nearest park and take some time to reminisce.
