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The Benefits of Eating Together
The Family Who Eats Together Stays Together |
"Come and get it!" It may be
dinnertime, but when was the last time your family sat down
and enjoyed dinner together? With music lessons, ball
practice, play rehearsal, and work schedules, it can be
tough. Rounding up the troop for an evening meal can be
almost impossible! However, research is beginning to show
that eating as a family has great benefits for your children
and teenagers. Here are 8 more reasons why you should try to
sit down together 5-6 times a week, whether for breakfast,
lunch or dinner.
Reason #1: Communication and Well-Being
Conversations during the meal provide opportunities for the
family to bond, plan, connect, and learn from one another.
It’s a chance to share information and news of the day, as
well as give extra attention to your children and teens.
Family meals foster warmth, security and love, as well as
feelings of belonging. It can be a unifying experience for
all.
Reason #2: Model Manners (and more)
Family mealtime is the perfect opportunity to display
appropriate table manners, meal etiquette, and social
skills. Keep the mood light, relaxed, and loving. Try not to
instruct or criticize—lead by example.
Reason # 3: Expand Their World…One Food at a Time
Encourage your children to try new foods, without forcing,
coercing, or bribing. Introduce a new food along with some
of the stand-by favorites. Remember that it can take 8-10
exposures to a new food before it is accepted, so be
patient. Trying a new food is like starting a new hobby. It
expands your child’s knowledge, experience, and skill.
- Include foods from
other cultures and countries.
- Select a new vegetable
from a local farmer’s market.
- Have your child select
a new recipe from a cookbook, web site, newspaper,
magazine or check out the recipes on SparkPeople.
Reason #4: Nourish
Meals prepared and eaten at home are usually more
nutritious and healthy. They contain more fruits,
vegetables, and dairy products along with additional
nutrients such as fiber, calcium, vitamins A and C, and
folate. Home cooked meals are usually not fried or highly
salted, plus soda and sweetened beverage consumption is
usually lower at the dinner table.
Reason #5: Become Self-Sufficient
Children today are missing out on the importance of
knowing how to plan and prepare meals. Basic cooking,
baking, and food preparation are necessities for being
self-sufficient. Involve your family in menu planning,
grocery shopping, and food preparation. Preschoolers can
tear lettuce, cut bananas, and set the table. Older children
can pour milk, peel vegetables, and mix batter. Teenagers
can dice, chop, bake, and grill. Working as a team puts the
meal on the table faster, as well as makes everyone more
responsible and accepting of the outcome. Improved eating
habits come with "ownership" of a meal.
Reason #6: Prevent Destructive Behaviors
Research shows that frequent family dinners (five
or more a week), are associated with lower rates of smoking,
drinking, and illegal drug use in pre-teens and teenagers
when compared to families that eat together two or fewer
times per week. Even as older children’s schedules get more
complicated, it is important to make an effort to eat meals
together. Scheduling is a must.
Reason #7: Improve Grades
Children do better in school when they eat more
meals with their parents and family. Teenagers who eat
dinner four or more times per week with their families have
higher academic performance compared with teenagers who eat
with their families two or fewer times per week.
Reason # 8: Save Money
Meals purchased away from home cost two to four
times more than meals prepared at home. At present time the
restaurant industry’s share of the total food dollar is more
than 46%. Due to scheduling, commitments, and activities,
families eat out several times each week.
It is time to bring the "family" back to the dinner table.
Sharing dinner together gives everyone a sense of identity.
It can help ease day-to-day conflicts, as well as establish
traditions and memories that can last a lifetime. |
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