DOHA: Eating out has become a habit for many Arab expat families, with an increase in the number of restaurants even in residential areas.
The growth in the number of restaurants offering a wide variety of food entices many people who otherwise prefer to eat at their homes. Single workers and families also turn to these food outlets as a place to enjoy each other’s company.
Also, people have become busy so they would rather dine out than stay at home and cook their meals.
This phenomenon, however, presents a big challenge to many families, threatening family ties, says an expert.
“There is no problem in dining at restaurants. The problem is when it becomes a habit. Eating at restaurants has become a threat to family ties and relationships. Sitting together during meals gives families a chance to talk and discuss issues. Family meeting is very important from the psychological point of view especially if the family is big. I advise parents not to miss such a chance,” Dr Moza Al Malki, a Qatari expert in counseling and psychotherapy, told this daily.
A family should be able to sit together at least twice a day, she added. “I know that life has changed and many of our eating habits have changed. Life has become quick, and so no one is able to sit with his family three times a day, but we should be keen to do that whenever we can,” she explained.
Al Malki said that “family meeting when eating together offers a fun atmosphere and provides a chance to discuss challenges they face. It is a chance for parents to know the problems their children face.” “It is not only a table for eating, but a table for teaching and exchanging good words among family members”.
In addition, eating at home is healthier than eating at restaurants because we know that fast food is full of fat and preservatives, while the meals which are prepared at home are healthier, and not costly, she concluded.
Fatima, a mother who spoke to this daily, said that most of her family members eat at restaurants and everyone brings a different meal with him, except during Fridays when they gather together for one meal. She said that they didn’t have time to sit together to eat and this is a very old habit. Everyone does whatever he wants.
Ramez, from Lebanon, commented that he likes to visit restaurants with his family only during weekends due to the variety of meals there which is difficult for them to prepare at home. It is also a chance for his wife to take rest from cooking. In addition, the restaurant he visits offers shisha smoking which he likes since he can’t smoke at home because it will endanger the health of his children.
Fadel, a restaurant operator, said that his restaurant has 50 customers daily while it receives more than 200 persons on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and people have to wait in queue, most of them families, because his restaurant offers family area.
Some Qataris prefer to take away meals and it’s rare to see them eat in the restaurant, said another restaurant operator.
