❶Benefits of eating together

By Mattern

刘 浪（译）

◆语篇导读

吃饭对于我们每个人来说都是再平常不过的事。有的人可能会说，吃饭人人都会，有什么好讨论的？其实，我们今天要说的不是吃饭的技巧，而是一起吃饭的好处。一起吃饭可以帮助一个人养成良好的饮食习惯，预防一些疾病，甚至能对儿童的身心健康产生深远的影响。

We all need to eat. So, meals could be a chance to stop what we're doing and spend time with the people in our lives.

But sometimes things are not.

It does not matter if a person is married or single, is a parent or not, is working or retired. From time to time, we all eat meals alone in full course. And, of course, eating alone at home or at a restaurant can be a very satisfying experience.

However, could eating too many meals alone be bad for our health or affect our future success?

A recent study from a team of South Korean researchers suggests that eating alone often may lead to poor eating habits and poor food choices.

The study found that men who ate alone more than twice a week had a greater risk of developing high blood pressure. For children, eating with their families is not only about preventing bad outcomes, but also about developing good ones.

In 2014, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) looked at data from nearly three-quarters of the world's countries. Among its findings was the fact that students who shared a main meal with their families were less likely to skip school.

Children who eat a main meal with their families are also less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.

Another study from the University of Montreal found that children who ate with their families experienced long-term physical and mental health benefits. These children were physically in better shape and drank fewer sugary soft drinks. These children also seemed to have better social skills and self-reported.

◆词语积淀

retired /rɪ΄taɪəd/ adj. 已退休的；已退职的

lead to 导致；造成(后果)

have a risk of 有……的风险

pressure /΄preʃə(r)/ n. 压力；挤压

outcome /΄aʊtkʌm/ n. 结果；效果

abuse /ə΄bjuːz/ v. 滥用；虐待

◆典句赏析

1.However, could eating too many meals alone be bad for our health or affect our future success?不过，经常独自用餐对我们的健康有害吗？它对我们未来的成功是否有影响？

“eating too many meals alone”是动名词短语作主语。动名词短语作主语时，谓语动词要用单数形式；“be bad for”是固定词组，意为“对……有害”。

【即时尝试】听嘈杂的音乐对我们的耳朵有害。

2.The study found that men who ate alone more than twice a week had a greater risk of developing high blood pressure.研究发现，每周独自用餐两次以上的男性患高血压的风险更大。

“that men who ate alone more than twice a week...”是由that引导的宾语从句，其中“who ate alone more than twice a week”本身又是一个定语从句，who是定语从句的关系代词，在从句中代替先行词men，作从句的主语。

【即时尝试】我的老师告诉我，不努力学习的人是不会成功的。

3.Children who eat a main meal with their families are also less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.与家人一起用餐的儿童将来滥用毒品和酗酒的概率也更低。

“who eat a main meal with their families”是定语从句，关系代词who代替先行词children在从句中作主语，主句的主语为Children；“be less likely to do(sth.)”是常见的搭配形式，意为“不太可能做(某事)”。

【即时尝试】这道数学题太难了，康康不太可能算出来。

(答案见第63页)

译文助读

民以食为天。因此，用餐可能是一个让我们停下手头工作与周遭的人聚在一起的机会。

但是，有时候情况并非如此。

已婚或单身，是否已为人父母，上班还是退休，这些都无关紧要。有时，我们会全程独自用餐。当然，在家里或在餐馆独自用餐是非常愉悦的体验。

不过，经常独自用餐对我们的健康有害吗？它对我们未来的成功是否有影响？

最近，韩国研究团队的一项研究表明，经常独自用餐可能会导致不良的饮食习惯及对低劣的食物选择。

研究发现，每周独自用餐两次以上的男性患高血压的风险更大。对于儿童来说，与家人一起用餐不仅能预防不良的影响，还可以培养良好的习惯。

2014年，经济合作与发展组织(经合组织) 研究了全球约四分之三的国家的数据。其中一项研究发现，与家人一起用餐的学生逃学概率更小。

与家人一起用餐的儿童将来滥用毒品和酗酒的概率也更低。

蒙特利尔大学的另一项研究发现，和家人一起用餐对儿童的身心健康有着深远的影响。通常来说，这些儿童的身体发育会更好，含糖饮料也较少饮用。这些儿童的社交能力和自我表现能力也更加突出。