Family Meals Matters

What is dinner time like in your home? Does everyone heat up his own meal in the microwave at different times and retreat to his own corner of the house or does everyone sit and eat, but one kid is wearing a headset while another is texting his friends?

Eating dinner together, for many families, has become a lost art. In fact, over 30 years, there has been a decrease in the number of families who have dinner together regularly.

So why is it important? "family dinners are the single, most important predictor of children`s academic achievement and psychological well being." Also, family mealtimes allow parents to become more involved with their children i.e. imparting values, monitoring food and nutrition, getting updated on activities and friends, and basically becoming good role models to them. Thus, by eating together with their parents, children were found more likely perform better in school, more grounded on good values, and were less likely to develop eating disorders or vices later on in life.

So what counts as a family meal? Anytime you and your family sit around, share life, and eat together- whether it`s take-out food or a home-cooked meal. Strive for nutritious food and a time when everyone can be there so this may mean eating dinner a little later or setting aside time on weekends to make it more convenient.

Eating together as a family is an opportunity to open the doors of communication. The benefits of which will last long after meal ends, especially if you make family mealtimes a regular activity.