There are many recommendations for the best healthy diets, including the Mediterranean diet and the Okinawan diet. But is there a specific way of eating that can enhance or maintain a sense of happiness during meals? Experts say the answer is yes.
However, this is not as easy to define as healthy eating. Renowned happiness expert Arthur C. Brooks pointed out in a recent article for The Atlantic that “compared to determining which diet is best for your cholesterol levels, (happy eating) is clearly much more subjective and personal.”
Yet the factors that make people happy while eating are not entirely subjective. Brooks states that generally, eating activates areas in the brain responsible for pleasure.
“To make the stimulation of this whole system go beyond mere pleasure and become a source of happiness, we need to experience enjoyment,” he said, which often comes from sharing a meal with others.
Brooks, also a lecturer at Harvard University teaching courses on managing happiness, delved deeper into compiling what he calls the “ultimate happiness diet” elements. He found that the enjoyment gained from eating is not so much about what you eat but how you eat.
He particularly emphasizes the importance of communal dining in enhancing the sense of happiness, a point also supported by a study from Asia. He also mentioned some crucial factors for a happy diet, including:
– Moderate eating: A study of Iranian students in 2016 found that the happiest were those who ate breakfast every day, had three meals a day, and had one to two snacks in between.
– Dietary diversity: Research from 2021 by Dutch happiness researcher Ruut Veenhoven indicated that when people have a diverse diet with moderate fat and oil content, low salt and sugar content, and most importantly, rich in fruits and vegetables, the sense of happiness increases.
Recent studies have also found that consuming more protein and healthy fats can effectively prevent anxiety and depression, while a high carbohydrate intake can lead to emotional issues and increased stress.
– Moderate alcohol consumption
– Reduce intake of processed foods, such as refined sweets and junk food
– Avoid overconsumption of foods that cause obesity
– Have regular meal times, “not eating in a hurry or grazing throughout the day”
Nevertheless, Brooks still considers social gatherings during meals as the most impressive aspect.
To him, “food is not the point at all.” When it comes to happiness, “the point is love.”