The dinner table

benefits of eating as a family

Improves communication

-during regular meal time, members share experiences, thoughts, and feelings. enhances communication skills.

Family bond

-you spend quality time together, creating stronger family bond and closer relationships.

-fosters this strong sense of connection to family.

Mental health

-studies have shown, regular family meals reduces anciety, depression, substance abuse.

-improves members self-esteem.

Eating habits

-when family eats together it maintains and improves diet.

School performance

-children perform and excell in studies.

Security

-family meals gives young children this sense of stability and feeling of belonging.

Values and traditions

-you pass them down generations.

-it becomes internalized, has a generational affect. Thus, by extensions affects not only family but also community and beyond.

Quality not quantity

-it is the quality of engagement and conversations, not just the ACT of being together. Two effects

-it creates love and admiration by listening to one another. Even when you are far away, you are near. Your are connected by heart and mind. Outsiders who may want to tear families apart for whatever reason have a hard time doing so.

Distractors

-get rid of TV, electronic devices to maximize yout family interaction

-creates calm: your mind is settled, you are at ease. Your parasympathetic “rest and digest” is one. Helps with digestion(if you have any issues), adds to quality of meal, rather than just eating to fill up stomach.

-allow kids to be silly, it again aids to their digestion and eating their food. So you don’t have to nag “EAT YOUR FOOD” for the umpteenth time.

Everyone partakes:

-everyone is involved in meal planning and preparing, which adds to that strong family dynamic.

Nutrition

-boosts their intake of key nutrients -increases the chance they will pick similar foods when they're away from home.

-it is easier to achievr healthy weight, both for family, esp. children. Children who have either low or high body mass index(BMI)

>Reference: normal BMI is between 18.5-25

Growth and development

-they grow and develop through puberty, adult, and beyond.

-brain maturity isn’t reached untill ~mid 20s. family meals affect every age and stage, so it ties together to school success. It has a multiplier affect.

Conclusion: Family meals are all-encompassing. Influences so many aspects of our life away from dinner table.