Author: Sarah Lyons

Families have changed a lot in the last fifty years. More women have entered the workforce, giving families the benefit of two incomes; single-parent families are also more common; and kids are involved in more after-school activities than previous generations. All of these lead to both positive and negative changes in family dynamics and ultimately leave us with busier lives and fuller schedules. While there are benefits to our current lifestyle, we cannot deny the fact that designated family dinner time has suffered. Before you brush family dinner aside as a thing of the past, consider the benefits of making it a priority.Picky Eaters When families eat dinner at home, they are more likely to be exposed to healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables. The foods we eat are usually made from fresh ingredients as well. Families who eat on the go often turn to fast-food or quick meals because of convenience. These options are typically higher in fat and calories, and are loaded with sodium. Picky eaters who are exposed to more fruits and vegetables at home are more likely to try new foods over time. Portion Control Families who eat at home control the portion size. This helps teach kids healthy eating habits. “Over the past few years portions have grown significantly in restaurants as has the frequency of Americans eating out. Bigger portions can mean that you’re getting more food than your body can stomach to maintain a healthy weight” (www.heart.org). Eating proper portions along with a variety of healthy foods will teach kids how to maintain a healthy lifestyle as they become adults. Open Communication Dinner time is a great opportunity to catch up with what is going on with each family member. Go around the table and have each family member state their high and low of the day. This gives every member of the family a time to share the best and worst of their day and allows for further discussion. Giving the family a designated time to talk helps connect family members to each other and opens the lines of communication between them. Saves Money In 2024, the average American spent $1,992 on eating out (www.yahoo.com). For a family of four that total comes to $7,968 and that number continues to rise each year as we enjoy the convenience of dining out. It is obvious from these numbers that families can save a lot of money by eating at home. Long-term Positive Benefits for Kids According to www.thefamilydinnerproject.org kids who share dinners with their family several times a week are more likely to have higher self-esteem, have a lower risk of depression, and are less likely to develop eating disorders. Kids are also more likely to have better grades and to graduate high school. It can be difficult to make time for family dinner, but given these great benefits it’s easy to see why it should be a priority. If your family schedule is complicated, start with one family dinner per week and slowly increase the frequency. It will not take long to see the benefits for every family member involved. [[image]]