Tuesday, March 4, 2008

The Benefits of Eating Together

The Benefits of Eating Together

"Come and get it!" It may be dinnertime, but when was the last time your family sat down and enjoyed dinner together? With music lessons, ball practice, play rehearsal, and work schedules, it can be tough. Rounding up the troop for an evening meal can be almost impossible! However, research is beginning to show that eating as a family has great benefits for your children and teenagers. Here's another reason why you should try to sit down together 5-6 times a week, whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Prevent Destructive Behaviors
Research shows that frequent family dinners (five or more a week), are associated with lower rates of smoking, drinking, and illegal drug use in pre-teens and teenagers when compared to families that eat together two or fewer times per week. Even as older children's schedules get more complicated, it is important to make an effort to eat meals together. Scheduling is a must.

It is time to bring the "family" back to the dinner table. Sharing dinner together gives everyone a sense of identity. It can help ease day-to-day conflicts, as well as establish traditions and memories that can last a lifetime.

4 comments:

  1. Emmi, when I was a kid my family never ate together except for holidays , but you know I come from a screwed -up family, Love Lisa

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  2. So funny that you write about this today.  I am having a MANDITORY attendance for dinner tonight.. (well 4 out of 5 of us).  We are all so busy with 2 kids working and Donna at school, we hardly ever eat together anymore.  
    Christina

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  3. I agree with this and the older they are the more precious these meals become.
    hugs
    Sherry

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  4. I hate how me and Colton haven't been eating together so much lately.  He doesn't like what I fix, so he usually ends up eating something different before my food gets done.  This makes me want to make a more concerted effort to get us back on eating at the same time.
    Donna

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