Why is Family Mealtime Important?

Everyone is so busy. It can often be difficult to find time for a family meal. This is especially true if you have teen and/or school-aged children. Conflicting schedules create obstacles for a number of families. However, it is crucial to make family mealtime a priority. There are immense benefits for your family's mental and physical health, when you make the time to sit down and eat together.

Mealtime offers a great opportunity for you to touch base with family members. You can check in on their mood and discuss the significant events of the day. It is important that there are limited distractions during this time. In other words, turn off the TV and devices so everyone can focus on interacting with each other.

From a health standpoint, you can make sure your family is eating properly. Keep in mind that you do not need to have a four-course meal to take advantage of this time with your loved ones. A simple meal is sufficient. It is helpful for you to know what your children are eating. If you rarely have meals with them, it is difficult to keep track of their diet. This may be particularly important if you have a child with health or weight problems.

Research shows that family meal time increases positive social skills, school engagement and decreases the frequency of negative behaviors In children. About 50% of Americans have family meal time five nights per week. However, the other half eats together much less often.

Make family mealtime a priority in your life. If you are unable to commit long term, try it for a few weeks and experience the positive impact for yourself. It may not always be easy to schedule this time, but it is well worth the effort.