So many factors play a role in what we eat — and how much. The availability of food, personal preferences, health concerns (or lack thereof), and daily schedules all come together to determine an individual’s diet. For someone with easy access to food and plenty of time, it’s generally easy to maintain a healthy diet. Someone with limited money and time may have fewer options for healthy eating.
However, there’s another factor that’s often overlooked when evaluating diet and eating habits. According to a number of studies conducted in the past 40 years, humans have a tendency to mirror the eating habits of their friends and family. More specifically, when you’re eating with someone who has healthy eating habits, you are more likely to imitate those habits and eat better yourself.
At the same time, when we eat with people who indulge, we’re more likely to indulge ourselves; not only does it help you fit in socially, but seeing others eat high-calorie, rich food is often interpreted as “permission” to do so ourselves, regardless of the consequences.
