Social distancing doesn’t mean we have to be socially distant. This has been the first time in our lives that restaurants are closed. During the week, I usually meal prep, or make easy, quick meals and don’t think too much about the social aspect of eating. When the weekends come, a great way to get together is to go out to eat. Without this aspect of our social life, we might lose connection with some people we might have done this with in the past. Here are some ways to keep that social aspect alive during this time:

Video Chat Dates

Whether this is with a loved one, family member (or multiple), or even a coworker you used to eat lunch with, Webex, Zoom, or even group Facetime is a great way to socialize while eating. This could be planned and you can plan to make the same dinner and see how each other’s meals come out!

Having themed dinners

Without restaurants, we don’t get to go out to get different cuisines. My favorite type of food is Japanese and I LOVE sushi. This gave me the idea to have different themed dinners like taco night, Italian night, and maybe even try to make my own sushi! This can be eaten with whoever’s in your house or get on a video chat & have them join in on the theme!

Take-out night!

Although dine-in isn’t an option during this time, a lot of local businesses are staying open just doing take-out! This can be a night with your partner, family, or roommates to take a break with cooking and enjoy some of your favorite takeout spots and maybe watch a movie! This could also be made into a date night with your partner by driving to a favorite place and eating the take-out in the car!

Written by our Campus Rec Intern, Jamie