it's actually really nice to go out to restaurants with a friend or friends where they eat and i just get to hang out. i've been able to experience that a fair amount in the past half year and i can think of a few reasons why i appreciate it:

- one of the only social activities where it's socially acceptable for the main mental stimulation to just be one another's company. i prefer just to chat, but some people can get bored or think its weird to not be doing Something. i hate activities. this way, they get an activity and i get my convo

- slower pace of interaction, and breaks are acceptable. food is an activity for downtime in conversation and people aren't weird about it. i have more time to put my thoughts together while they eat.

- when with multiple people, i get more chances and opportunities to talk. if i'm really into a topic, i can engage lots of people at once and i can dominate the convo without it being so much of an imposition

- anthropology/sociology thing that ppl are comfy and let their guard down when eating - kinda this inherently trust building ritual, really cute

i think the reason i have been so emotionally impressed by this is because previously, my family and friends got really weird with me not eating. probably because they knew me pre-eating disorder, or at least were around when it arose.