When you have a busy schedule and everything you do feels rushed, eating a meal with friends or family might be the last thing on your mind. Sometimes, everyone in the family seems to be running on different schedules and eating at different times. However, planning a time to surround yourself with people you care about has so many benefits. It is worth giving this a try!
Why It Matters
Research indicates that regular family/friend meals provide physical, social-emotional, and academic benefits. Benefits of eating meals together for children may include:
– better performance in in school
– higher self-esteem
– improved mental health
– more resilience
– promotion of healthy eating habits
– better cardiovascular health.
There are benefits for adults, too! Mealtime with family and friends:
– encourages adults eat a more nutritious diet with fruits and vegetables and limit fast foods
– increases self-esteem and improves mood
– may decrease family conflict
– improves family members’ happiness
– fosters family connectedness
These benefits are strongest when there is tasty food, fun, and conversation at mealtimes. By having a warm and positive breakfast, lunch, or dinner with the people who uplift you, you are setting yourself up for success!
1. Give your children fun people plates. There are some plates that can look like your child and have them arrange food in the shape of clothing, hair, and other facial features.
2. Have family board game nights. Playing board games before dinner can set a happy and enthusiastic mood for dinner. It will make the kids look forward to family mealtimes!
3. Invite friends over and have them cook dinner with you. Preparing a meal with friends often comes with lots of joy and laughter. Choosing a fun recipe nobody has tried making before will be a fun challenge all of you can share! If you’re also having dinner with family, your kids might enjoy the new company!
4. Limit distractions. Put all devices in a basket, so that everybody stays engaged in conversation and focused on each other.
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We hope to have inspired you to pick out more days in the week to sit down and have a lovely meal with your loved ones!
Additional Resources:
– 15 Ways to Make Mealtime Fun
– The Family Dinner Project
– Utah State University “The Power of Family Mealtime”
Written with help from our Summer Intern Marisa Mazari!