Bringing Back the Family Meal
Basketball practice, swim lessons, games…the list goes on with how busy we have become. Managing the family calendar can be daunting and even more so when you add the infamous “What’s for dinner?” to the list. Work, school & activities make it increasingly challenging to sit down together for a meal. A recent study from the Family Dinner Project showed that only about 30% of families eat dinner together despite the numerous benefits.
Maybe you’re wondering if having family meals are really that important anymore? As a licensed clinical mental health provider I can attest to the positive impact family mealtime has on the family unit as a whole. Having at least one meal together as a family during the week (or weekend) has been shown to improve children’s self-esteem, communication skills, academic performance, and increase resilience. Additionally, family meals have been shown to decrease risk of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, teen pregnancy & lower likelihood of developing eating disorders.
Our young children build a larger vocabulary as well as improve communication & social skills by eating with family members. Parents are able to model conversation skills in addition to showing children they matter, by sitting down and committing your full attention to them during this time. Family mealtime for our school-age children is correlated with higher achievement scores, more so than homework, art or sport activities. Meals are a chance to let your children shine and tell you about the highlights of their day, or support them as they share something difficult, they faced earlier in the day. Family meals are not only improving children’s intellect but also improving family relationships & socialization. Teens who have frequent family dinners surveyed by the American College of Pediatricians obtain higher grades & reported having stronger relationships with their parents and siblings, lower emotional/behavioral problems as well a stronger inclination to confide in their parents for guidance.
The concept of a “family meal” can vary, but at its core, this event is when a family spends time together eating a meal, providing time to communicate and share ideas & experiences. Let go of any judgements or restrictions about what you think family meals “should be”, and give yourself the grace to create something special for your individual family. While a big Sunday night dinner may work for one family, Thursday pizza nights, or Saturday morning Pancake breakfasts may work best for your particular family! Meal planning, takeout, or cooking together are all options to make family mealtime uniquely your own. Speak to your family and find a day/time that works to create a meal tradition aligning with your family’s values & needs. Throughout a given week we have 16 opportunities to eat meals together, seven breakfast, seven dinners, and two lunches on the weekend. How might bringing back the family meal make a positive impact in your home?
