Dear LPG,

I don’t know about anyone else, but as I have become older and my family have moved away, I know that I have become one of those people who now make up the statistics about people who live alone.   I know most people do adapt, but it is not a natural thing to do really. 

It has its advantages; as they say you get the television remote control all to yourself, but every advantage comes with its disadvantage.  Being able to please oneself can lead to that slippery slope where it is very easy to end up not bothering to eat at all, or making each meal something that you can eat between two slices of bread rather than take the time to prepare.   I remember that when I worked, even though I lived alone, I would share my main meal of the day with work colleagues.  Somehow, talking is important when eating whatever the subject.  I can remember when this time represented a mini daily occasion.  

So before we more solitary elders find ourselves in the situation where eating is a chore, we need to share the experience. 

I have a friend who makes dinner for her neighbour two days a week, while she goes next door for her dinner on another two.  They go out to eat on Saturdays and so there are only two days out of seven when she habitually eats alone.  She tells me that there is something special about knowing that she is making a meal for two or going out to be served.  It forces her to make more of an effort when she is cooking and the two of them often have a smile when the preparation does not produce the perfect meal.  They tell me that dinner is sometimes a quick TV dinner but it is the company that makes the meal.

Another solution is to find something you particularly like to watch on telly and make that your reason to stop what you are doing and prepare dinner ready for that time.  The many day centres and eating clubs are there for a reason too.  This might be the time to get involved.

If there are so many people who are busy alone and each of them can find someone to share their meals with from time to time, we change the statistics just a little bit for the better.   If we eat with others two or three times a week, eating alone will also become something to look forward to.

LPG found some other thoughts on the subject

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