?Benefits of eating together

By Mattern

劉 浪（譯）

◆語篇導讀

吃飯對于我們每個人來說都是再平常不過的事。有的人可能會說，吃飯人人都會，有什么好討論的？其實，我們今天要說的不是吃飯的技巧，而是一起吃飯的好處。一起吃飯可以幫助一個人養成良好的飲食習慣，預防一些疾病，甚至能對兒童的身心健康產生深遠的影響。

We all need to eat. So, meals could be a chance to stop what we're doing and spend time with the people in our lives.

But sometimes things are not.

It does not matter if a person is married or single, is a parent or not, is working or retired. From time to time, we all eat meals alone in full course. And, of course, eating alone at home or at a restaurant can be a very satisfying experience.

However, could eating too many meals alone be bad for our health or affect our future success?

A recent study from a team of South Korean researchers suggests that eating alone often may lead to poor eating habits and poor food choices.

The study found that men who ate alone more than twice a week had a greater risk of developing high blood pressure. For children, eating with their families is not only about preventing bad outcomes, but also about developing good ones.

In 2014, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) looked at data from nearly three-quarters of the world's countries. Among its findings was the fact that students who shared a main meal with their families were less likely to skip school.

Children who eat a main meal with their families are also less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.

Another study from the University of Montreal found that children who ate with their families experienced long-term physical and mental health benefits. These children were physically in better shape and drank fewer sugary soft drinks. These children also seemed to have better social skills and self-reported.

◆詞語積淀

retired /r??ta??d/ adj. 已退休的；已退職的

lead to 導致；造成(后果)

have a risk of 有……的風險

pressure /?pre??(r)/ n. 壓力；擠壓

outcome /?a?tk?m/ n. 結果；效果

abuse /??bju?z/ v. 濫用；虐待

◆典句賞析

1.However, could eating too many meals alone be bad for our health or affect our future success?不過，經常獨自用餐對我們的健康有害嗎？它對我們未來的成功是否有影響？

“eating too many meals alone”是動名詞短語作主語。動名詞短語作主語時，謂語動詞要用單數形式；“be bad for”是固定詞組，意為“對……有害”。

【即時嘗試】聽嘈雜的音樂對我們的耳朵有害。

2.The study found that men who ate alone more than twice a week had a greater risk of developing high blood pressure.研究發現，每周獨自用餐兩次以上的男性患高血壓的風險更大。

“that men who ate alone more than twice a week...”是由that引導的賓語從句，其中“who ate alone more than twice a week”本身又是一個定語從句，who是定語從句的關系代詞，在從句中代替先行詞men，作從句的主語。

【即時嘗試】我的老師告訴我，不努力學習的人是不會成功的。

3.Children who eat a main meal with their families are also less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.與家人一起用餐的兒童將來濫用毒品和酗酒的概率也更低。

“who eat a main meal with their families”是定語從句，關系代詞who代替先行詞children在從句中作主語，主句的主語為Children；“be less likely to do(sth.)”是常見的搭配形式，意為“不太可能做(某事)”。

【即時嘗試】這道數學題太難了，康康不太可能算出來。

(答案見第63頁)

譯文助讀

民以食為天。因此，用餐可能是一個讓我們停下手頭工作與周遭的人聚在一起的機會。

但是，有時候情況并非如此。

已婚或單身，是否已為人父母，上班還是退休，這些都無關緊要。有時，我們會全程獨自用餐。當然，在家里或在餐館獨自用餐是非常愉悅的體驗。

不過，經常獨自用餐對我們的健康有害嗎？它對我們未來的成功是否有影響？

最近，韓國研究團隊的一項研究表明，經常獨自用餐可能會導致不良的飲食習慣及對低劣的食物選擇。

研究發現，每周獨自用餐兩次以上的男性患高血壓的風險更大。對于兒童來說，與家人一起用餐不僅能預防不良的影響，還可以培養良好的習慣。

2014年，經濟合作與發展組織(經合組織) 研究了全球約四分之三的國家的數據。其中一項研究發現，與家人一起用餐的學生逃學概率更小。

與家人一起用餐的兒童將來濫用毒品和酗酒的概率也更低。

蒙特利爾大學的另一項研究發現，和家人一起用餐對兒童的身心健康有著深遠的影響。通常來說，這些兒童的身體發育會更好，含糖飲料也較少飲用。這些兒童的社交能力和自我表現能力也更加突出。