随身英语
The pleasure of eating alone 独自用餐的乐趣
你喜不喜欢一个人吃饭？虽然有不少人和文章关注讨论独自吃饭的消极一面，但这种饮食方式可能也有它积极的一面。本期节目带你了解独自就餐的好处。
词汇：food 食物
Should you eat to live or live to eat?... a question posed by French playwright Moliere in his work ‘The Miser’. While eating is functional, and our bodies need the fuel that food provides, dining with friends or loved ones can be a wonderful experience. However, some of us often find ourselves reserving a table for one in a restaurant. But is dining alone really that bad? Maybe not.
We all have foods we like and dislike. Maybe it’s a pungent cheese or stinky fish. We sometimes hold back on things that may offend the noses of others. When dining alone, we can consume whatever we like, with the added bonus that we might be able to eat more healthily. Often, if you want a salad and your significant other wants some less healthy cuisine, you end up ordering the same. And if you don’t get the same, you might end up with food envy as you watch someone chow down on a pizza while you’re left holding the lettuce.
Have you ever spent too long debating with people which restaurant to eat in or when to meet? If dining solo, you can make the choice depending on your culinary desires at that moment and get your nourishment at exactly the time you’re hungry! And why does it have to be a restaurant? You could eat in a park, garden or even your bed – the point is, the choice is yours! That alone time also means it’s a time to switch off. According to psychologist Sherrie Bourg Carter, a bit of solitude can help your brain to unwind and may help you concentrate more.
Finally, for some, dining alone can be a necessity. For those of us who suffer from misophonia, a hatred of sound, that can in some cause PTSD, the noise of someone else masticating can be unbearable. Eating alone can save you from the extreme anxiety that may arise listening to someone smack their lips or the sloshing of saliva in their mouths! So, is eating alone bad? Well, it may not be for everyone, but there certainly are some benefits to it. Try it sometime – you might just like it!
词汇表
fuel 燃料，这里比喻食物所提供的能量
dine 用餐，吃饭
reserve 订位，预约
pungent （气味或味道）强烈刺鼻的
stinky 难闻的，臭的
consume （大量地）吃，喝
cuisine 菜肴
order 点菜
food envy 嫉妒其他人在吃的美味菜肴
chow down 吃掉
dine solo 独自就餐
culinary 饮食方面的，食物的
nourishment 营养，提供营养的食物
masticate 咀嚼
smack one’s lips （吃东西时）咂嘴
saliva 口水
测验与练习
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. Why do we sometimes hold back from eating our favourite foods with others?
2. What can cause food envy?
3. Where can you eat if dining alone?
4. What are the potential benefits of some moments of solitude?
5. What are the effects of chewing sounds on people with misophonia?
2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
1. Stop _______ your lips! It sounds disgusting!
chowing down smacking nourishment saliva
2. Wow! Your food looks amazing. I think I have _______.
nourishment culinary food envy masticate
3. He’s amazing in the kitchen – he makes some _______ delights!
culinary masticate consume dine
4. Your fish has a very strong smell. It’s really _______.
masticate saliva food envy pungent
5. I am so hungry – I’m just going to _______ on this food.
chow down culinary saliva nourishment
答案
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. Why do we sometimes hold back from eating our favourite foods with others?
We sometimes avoid eating our favourite smelly foods with others as we are worried about offending their noses.
2. What can cause food envy?
Not eating the same food as someone else and thinking their food looks better.
3. Where can you eat if dining alone?
Wherever you want! That’s one of the biggest benefits.
4. What are the potential benefits of some moments of solitude?
You relax and it may help you to concentrate.
5. What are the effects of chewing sounds on people with misophonia?
Chewing sounds can cause anxiety or even PTSD in people with misophonia.
2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
1. Stop smacking your lips! It sounds disgusting!
2. Wow! Your food looks amazing. I think I have food envy.
3. He’s amazing in the kitchen – he makes some culinary delights!
4. Your fish has a very strong smell. It’s really pungent.
5. I am so hungry – I’m just going to chow down on this food.
