In a complicated world where we’re all feeling a bit isolated and disconnected, we’re constantly bombarded with all the things we should be doing to boost our health and wellbeing. It often feels a bit overwhelming, but sometimes the simplest steps can be the most powerful.

We all know how important our diet is, but instead of just focusing on “what” we eat, we should probably also be focusing on “how” we eat

“As humans, food is one of the primary ways that we create and maintain connections…” explains Emiliano Pena – a London-based dietitian. “Throughout history, cultures and civilisations around the world have marked the important moments of our lives with food.”

If you think about your daily routine, it’s likely that the way that you eat is fairly functional. You grab some breakfast on your way to work, you eat lunch at your desk or while you’re scrolling your socials, and dinner is the meal-prep from your fridge once you’ve hit the gym. It’s functional – it gets the job done. Sure, you’re doing your best to eat a balanced diet and keep an eye on your intake of calories, but what you’re missing is the social aspect of meal-time.

When was the last time that you sat down and shared a meal with someone? No phones, no distractions, just eating food together and catching up on the day-to-day dramas that make life interesting – for many of us, it’s a rarity.

Emiliano advocates for more than just eating together – he believes that we can also unlock enormous health and wellbeing benefits by cooking together.

“Food is more than nutrients – it is pleasure, memory, culture and connection…” he explains. “You can feel a shift in the room when people cook together – we slow down, the conversation becomes more engaged. There is something about working with your hands, paying attention to smell, heat, and texture, that pulls you into the present and anchors you in the now.”

In a city such as London, finding opportunities to cook with other people can be difficult – we’re all leading busy lives, many of us are in sharehouses, and our friends often live on the other side of town.

The idea of getting together and cooking up a feast sounds like fun but trying to navigate the logistics of it all will generally leave us reaching for our go-to food-delivery app.

On a mission to empower queer people to build a healthy relationship with food, Emiliano is offering communal cooking sessions at a private studio in Hoxton – walking distance from Old Street or Hoxton Station on the Windrush line.

“Everyone is welcome to join us for a small-group event… ” says Emiliano. “We’re keeping it simple – we cook things such as tacos or pasta – it’s nothing complicated. Together, we prepare and cook the meal, then we sit around the table and eat together.”

A small-group event that has some kind of activity or focus is particularly good if you’re single or if you experience anxiety about meeting new people and navigating social spaces. Even if you’re struggling to make conversation, you can just concentrate on the task at hand or share a laugh if things aren’t going to plan.

“You don’t have to know how to cook… ” reassures Emiliano. “You don’t have to have a big personality, you don’t have to perform. It’s very relaxed – there’s no pressure or expectation. Just come along and share some food. That doesn’t sound too hard, does it?”

The dates and booking details for all of Emiliano’s events are on OutSavvy.

The Hoxton Studio hosts a range of small-group events that focus on bringing men together to connect and build community. Whether it’s Book Club or Life Drawing or Massage Exchange, there’s a huge range of events available. The full schedule can be found here.

Gareth Johnson is the host of Naked Men Talking – a podcast exploring intimacy, sexuality, and masculinity.