Family Dinners Are Good Medicine

Photo: Dr Laracuente Family

With the start of a new school year, families get busy with homework, extracurricular activities, and so many other commitments.

Is there enough time in the day to sit down and have a family meal?

There’s growing evidence that when a family eats dinner together 5 or more nights a week, the emotional health and well-being of the whole family improves.

Benefits of regular family dinners for children:

• Lower incidence of obesity during childhood and adolescence
• Higher likelihood of maintaining a healthy weight once living by themselves
• Higher commitment to learning and better school performance
• Lower rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide attempts
• Lower rates of disordered eating and disordered body image
• Higher self-esteem, self-efficacy, and well-being

Benefits for parents:

• Higher self-reported levels of well-being and self-esteem
• Lower stress levels

Family meals are the perfect opportunity to have meaningful conversation with our kids and while doing so, develop a strong sense of connection and trust

In order to get to know them, ask questions

• How was your day?
• How are your friends going?
• Who did you have lunch with?
• Are you being bullied?

During a family meal, kids can :

• Practice manners
• Taking turns during a conversation
• Making healthy food choices
• Get to know us as well

I believe in flexibility, if dinner is not feasible for your family because of difficult work schedules or late night team practices, then consider breakfast, and maximize the time spent together at the table during the weekend.

You get the concept…you make the rules!

How do you maximize family time?

LAMSA’s note: We would like to thank Dr Laracuente for her collaboration.