It’s a strangely universal human trait: we enjoy getting together for a good meal. Dinner parties, holiday get-togethers, and meals out with friends where we frequently overindulge are all examples of shared meals that are so commonplace that they are rarely discussed, unless the notion that they aren’t occurring frequently becomes popular.
For example, headlines are frequently filled with panic over a drop in family dinners. Evidence suggests that these worries may be at least a century old and are not a recent fad. All of this implies that eating meals together is not just typical but also profoundly potent. However, why?
Given that chimpanzees and bonobos are two of our closest relatives, sharing food is a behavior that probably predates the emergence of our species.
