7 Reasons Family Dinners are Important

Farewell to the Family Dinner?

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What does a family dinner look like today? The image that comes to mind is not one of warm conversation while passing grandma’s antique bowl filled with mashed potatoes. Sorry, it’s not a scene from Norman Rockwell, either. Today’s family time during dinner is different from decades ago. Children today spend time in their rooms fiddling on their cell phones and tablets. Moms and dads are catching up on social media with a fork in one hand, and an iPhone in the other. Even the dog doesn’t even go to the table for scraps anymore since plates are taken to be enjoyed around the television. This is our fast-paced society and the change of the American family landscape. There is a problem with the lack of time we spend as a family unit. We are missing out on important time. It allows everyone time to relax and reconnect with each other, or to just decompress. Dinner can be a time of discussing issues of the day, and a place to feel safe. We will look at seven inspiring reasons for having a family dinner. You might find it just as important for the family today as it was for you growing up.

Helps Communication

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People are busy and don’t have time to disconnect from the world along with the bombardment of technology. Parents have soccer, ballet, and other after school activities to tend to so the entire family will eat on the go. Research from North Dakota State University reported that sharing a family meal helps keep communication flowing. “Children can learn from parents and grandparents about what values are important to the family. It also helps with daily family connections among family members.” Dinner at the table also cultivates patience we need to become a good listener. If you are not ready to have a family meal, wait. You want dinner to have a relaxing atmosphere, where everyone can unwind. If there is chaos and stress, everyone will associate that dinnertime is a stressful event.

Learning about Heritage

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Another asset in having dinner together is learning about cultural heritage and learning more about family history. This way knowledge is passed down to the next generation. This can be Irish, German, or Hispanic foods that relatives cooked and shared over the years. Not only does this open the door for questions, it creates a place where children can understand their connection with others. There is something special about learning where you come from and the dinner table is a great place to share family traditions and roots. Create an open forum where people can express what they like, and what dishes they like to create together. Maybe it is Italian or French. Choose a dish together like Nana's lasagna and make it together.

Health Benefits

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There are health benefits in sharing meals. It makes sure everyone eats a balanced and healthy meal. It is a great place to introduce new foods like veggies to kids instead of forcing them to eat all their carrots or sprouts. There are other health benefits of eating together for children. Higher test scores, improved thinking skills and there is a reduction in poor behavior. There was also “a decrease in high-risk behaviors is related to the amount of time spent with family, especially during family dinners,” the University of Florida found. Overall, meals spent together as a family could have a positive impact on self-esteem, values, and cognitive development for youths.

Building Strong Kids

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A study done by the Journal of the American Medical Association presented evidence that family time helped children bounce back from cyberbullying and reduced smoking and alcohol abuse. The support found at home also helped build resilience in children. Dinner conversation helped lower eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and helped with obesity in some children. Mealtime can be a moment in the day where we cast our own cares aside for both kids and parents. Use these times to have fun with people in your family. It does not need to be serious or all about doing homework and what deadlines are looming. Laugh a little. Tell a joke or talk about plans to go on a trip together, or chat about lighthearted subjects.

Dealing with Stress

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Eating together helps with stress accumulated during the day. Sharing what is bothering you at dinner might not be ideal, but releasing doubts or concerns are healthy. Being heard is important and listening to others just as beneficial. It allows for you to be authentic and helps you have the boldness to approach subjects that may have been glossed over. Listening is an important skill that none of us have mastered. Meeting together will help this skill along with talking issues out with each other. Brigham Young University did a study on those who sit down for a family meal. Researchers studied working moms at IBM and found that when they made time to have dinner after a hard day it helped reduce stress from the office. The next day they felt more refreshed.

Helps Us Eat Healthier and Save Money

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Having meals together can help the family learn about portion control and can help the family save money from eating out. If there is more food on the plate we will eat it, so this way you control both. Health.com shared that Americans spend up to 40 percent of their budget on food outside the home. We know the portions of food at some restaurants are big in comparison to home cooking. How much so? “The average restaurant meal has as much as 60 percent more calories than a homemade meal,” the site offered. Instead of using the money outside the home, make it a game to see how much is saved for three months and then use that money for a family trip. Just think you will be thinner as well!

It's a Time to Thank God

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Spending time together at dinner also means giving thanks for friends and family. It can be a time to reconnect with God through prayer and offer thanksgiving after a hard day or week. There is no fancy way to collectively engage in prayer. Be yourself. Ask others to join in and you might find there is a sense of peace when you reflect on your blessings. Make up a prayer, and speak from the heart. This is what matters the most. If there are children, ask them what their prayer requests are, and unite with them. Praying brings people together and the dinner table is not exempt from this.

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