Craving a Table for One? Why Psychologists Say Eating Alone Is Usually a Good Thing

Craving a Table for One? Why Psychologists Say Eating Alone Is Usually a Good Thing

For the modern diner, eating alone is no longer something to apologize for—it’s an act of self-possession, and in many cases, a luxury. More Americans are embracing this quiet ritual. Solo dining has risen more than fifty percent since 2003, with about one in four adults now eating every meal alone on certain days. Among those under 25, the shift is even more striking: an 80-percent increase over two decades. But beyond the numbers is something …