Analysis Of On Eating Alone By Suzanne Lenzer

The article “On Eating Alone” by Suzanne Lenzer, examines how people of all ages struggle when eating alone in public. A social stigma has developed over eating alone and it makes us nervous to eat alone. Fears about eating alone develop because of social stigmas existing in our society. Chris Blum, a student at St. Olaf College, conducted a study called Cafeteria Dining at St. Olaf College: Together and Alone, which looked at how some college students develop eating disorders. The article, “For College Kids: How to Eat Alone in the Dining Hall” by Meg F. Schneider talks about insecurities college students face when dining alone. College students everywhere face societal pressures regarding eating alone. This escalates issues a student may already have, for example, issues regarding depression, eating disorders, weight gain, and an overall lack of social interaction. The issue of dining alone affects many people of all different ages, especially in the United States.

They develop anxieties regarding eating alone because they focus on what others are thinking. These students find themselves concerned over others perception of them, instead of focusing on themselves and their own task. In reality, most people are not concerned about others and are worrying of how they, themselves appear (Schneider). Due to the fact that people worry about eating alone due to others perception of them, the issue of eating alone does not arise if they become truly alone (Schneider). Meg F. Schneider, discusses in her Huffington post article, “For College Kids: How to Eat Alone in the Dining Hall” most college students do not feel uncomfortable when eating alone in their room in front on their computer. Due to this, the issue of dining alone becomes about people being insecure, and having the appearance of looking like they have no