Starting a simple habit with your young child, such as regularly eating meals together, can have a lifelong impact. A day that begins with breakfast and ends with dinner as a family is more than just a benefit of sharing plates of food. It’s an opportunity to bond as a family, teach children table manners, share stories and experiences, and sample and learn about traditions, cultures, and foods. But there are even more significant benefits of family mealtimes.
According to The Family Dinner Project, some of the specific benefits of family dinners are:
- Better academic performance
- Higher self-esteem
- Greater sense of resilience
- Lower chance of substance abuse
- Lower chance of teen pregnancy
- Lower chance of depression
- Lower likelihood of developing eating disorders
- Lower rates of obesity
Sometimes, it can be challenging for families to find the time to sit and share a meal. Between work, school, childcare, extracurricular activities, and other household demands, many families find that their busy schedules conflict with family mealtimes. Try these tips to make sharing meals with your family easier.
- Plan your menu. Even planning meals a few days in advance makes it one less decision a family must make—and address—when it comes to a family meal. Even basic meals, such as oatmeal or yogurt for breakfast, can be varied daily with a simple mix of fruits, jams, or nuts.
- Prepare food, or even just ingredients, beforehand. It’s much easier to throw together a meal, like stir-fry, when the peppers and onions are chopped, and the cooked rice is waiting in the refrigerator. Wonder when you’ll find the time to prep food? Reserve a time in your schedule when each family member can help, like a Sunday afternoon. And don’t discount your little ones! Even young children can wash lettuce or scrub apples.
- Schedule your family meals. Sometimes, families automatically add soccer practice or Sunday service to their calendars but may not think of adding specific days for family meals. If schedules are busy, take the time to plan for family meals—even if it’s 20 minutes for breakfast three times a week or every Wednesday night for dinner.
- Turn off technology. Let family mealtimes be a time for family—not tablets, phones, or television. Without the distraction of technology, every family member can focus on each other.