Eating with other people is good for your health. That's what Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy is recommending. e knows that sharing food is the cure for loneliness and isolation. It is the antidote America needs to combat the overwhelming feelings of being alone.
Regular contributor Julia Moskin wrote about the surgeon general in yesterday's New York Times Wednesday Food section. SO many people are alone these days.It;'s hard enough to live , harder still to try to eat when they're feeling desolation. Last year Dr. Murthy released a much heralded study on loneliness that identified loneliness as a growing public health epidemic.It can increase the risk of premature death almost s much as obesity and smoking. The study identified "six pillars" of change which the government can use to combat the problem. There's all sorts of recommendations, whether it'sa shared scone, a family visit to a taco truck, a neighborhood cookout or a Freindsgiving where friends are welcome to come and cook at a Thanksgiving dinner. He showed up at cookbook author Joan Nathan's house with a pot of ras Malai, a cardomon scented dessert of milk and sugar topped with pistachios. He is used to and enjoy socializing over meals. His parents threw informal dinner parties when he was tiny after they left Karnataka in Southwest India and settled in Miami.
Potlucks are the easiest parties to throw. People can come as they are and make easy to cook dishes that cna be easily reheated.For the party with Dr. Murthy it was a little more complicated.Ms. Nathan had to cooridinate all sorts of dishes because the surgeon general is a vegetarian, Another invited chef wanted to bring a pork shoulder while another famous chef, Alice Waters opted to get her childhood favorite fresh greens from a local market to create a salad. Some dishes were interesting. Chef and activist Matthew Railford who is also a sixth generation farmer in Georgia brought a suitcase of boiled peanuts.Kevin Tien, chef and owner of Washington D.C.'s Moon Rabbit carried in trays of banh ho choi gio chay, sheets of rice noodles to be wrapped around vegetables and hebs. He also did what most potluck guests do, going into the host's kitchens and immediately looking for serving platters.Others brought in simpler dishes. The chef and owner of Centralina Amy Brandwine brought a kambucha squash soup while Chef Andres borught his mothers;vegetable stew and various other foods. Tiffany William, the president of Martha's Table.s brought c hicken wings. A potluck can be anything you want it to be. As long as there;s good company and good food.
No one should have to eat alone. Follow. Dr. Murthy's advice and arrange a pot luck with friends and family.It's a good wau to connect, with food and community.
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