by Anne StClair

Created on: March 24, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2009

Eating alone is thought of by many as an experience to be avoided at all costs, but if managed correctly, eating alone need not be a dreaded experience at all.

Eating Alone at Restaurants

This is an experience many people dread and seek to avoid, often by buying food and taking it elsewhere to eat. Sitting alone in a restaurant can be embarrassing if you are not used to it because everyone seems to expect that we are all part of a duo. Waiting staff will even sometimes wait 10-15 minutes before coming to your table, because they are waiting for your non-existent partner to arrive.

Having no partner, either temporarily or forever, simply means you are sitting alone at a table. It should not matter, and it is important to remember that it does not matter at all what the staff or other customers think about it. Remember you will probably never see any of them again anyway.

In order to avoid any feelings of embarrassment you may have, set out to enjoy the experience instead. Start with the menu and think about what you will eat. One of the great things about eating alone is that you are totally free to experiment, and to try things you would never try if you were not alone. You can also pig out' and enjoy a delicious, luxurious dessert (or two) with no partner present to make you feel guilty!

Take your time and do not rush your meal in an effort to get out of the place as fast as possible. You have just as much right to enjoy a good, decent meal as anyone else, so eat well and take the time to really enjoy the food. Be aware of the surroundings too, and enjoy the ambience. Of course, you have no partner with whom to discuss the meal, so discuss it with the staff if you like. Compliment them if the meal is good, or even ask for a recipe if a dish has particularly impressed you.

If you are concerned that people look at you while you eat alone, just smile at them and return to enjoying your meal. Actually, you will find that most people will not even give you a thought.

Eating Alone at Home

For most people, eating alone at home is less dreaded than eating out alone, but many people do not make the most of the experience and either do not bother to cook, or just eat anything', or do not even sit at the table. Eating alone at home can be a good experience, however, if you decide to eat as though you were a Queen/King/President/Pooh Bah. Set the table properly, use table napkins, silver cutlery, and sit at the table, without TV or any other distractions in place. Light a candle if you like, and make an event out of the meal.

If you treat yourself how you would like to be treated if you had a butler and housekeeper on staff and a dozen guests, you will enjoy eating alone. Always prepare good, nutritious meals, and don't accept second-best just because you're on your own. A really big advantage of eating alone at home is you can experiment with cooking and try out adventurous dishes without anyone else being there to criticize you or complain about the inevitable failures. Eating alone is a great opportunity to practice your culinary skills.

Eating alone is a dreaded experience for some, but there are advantages too, and there is no reason eating alone cannot be an enjoyable experience.

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