Family Mealtime… All the Time!

When was the last time your family came together to enjoy a meal? Yesterday? Last week? Last month? Or maybe even last year? No matter when it may have been, it’s never too late to round up the family and begin recognizing the importance of family mealtime.

Family mealtime is more than just sitting down to nourish your body, it provides an experience that touches all your senses—sight, touch, taste, and smell. Research has shown that regular and meaningful family meals, whether that’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a midnight snack, offer a variety of benefits to all members of the family.

6 Benefits of Family Mealtime

So, what exactly are the benefits of sitting down for a family meal? Here are just a few benefits to family mealtime:

1. Strengthens family bonds. Eating together provides an opportunity for all members of the family to form and build closer relationships. Use mealtime as a time to talk, connect, and make memories together.

2. More delicious and nutritious. Preparing home-cooked meals are likely to be more nutritious than dining in or ordering take out from a restaurant.

3. Learning Experience. Children have the chance to learn all about food groups and how food nourishes their body, providing energy their body needs.

4. Saves money. Preparing meals in your home is not only cost-effective and better on the family’s wallet, but also tastes better too!

5. Diversifies your palette. Eating together as a family allows for parents and children to be adventurous with their foods and try new things together. Make memories as a family by trying new foods, recipes, and special concoctions!

6. Learn new skills. Mealtime allows for new skill sets to be born. Whether it’s involving the children in preparing the meal or practicing good social skills at the dinner table— mealtime allows families to learn and grow together.

Getting Family Mealtime Started

Nowadays, with chaotic work schedules, extracurricular activities, school and so much more, sitting down to a meal as a family can seem nearly impossible. To help make the impossible seem possible, here are some tips and tricks to help your family eat more meals together!

Make it a priority. There is no time like the present! Start now by making family meals a priority in your household. Discuss with your family the importance and value of gathering together for a family meal.

Start small. If your family is new to mealtime, going from eating together 0 meals a week to 7 meals overnight will not work. Plan mealtimes around what works for your family’s schedule. Pick the meal, pick a day, and let everyone know its family time!

Plan, plan & plan. Planning ahead can make mealtime easy and painless! As a family, plan a menu for the week. This will help keep family mealtime consistent and something everyone can look forward to.

Work together. Teamwork makes the dream work. Get the whole family involved with the shopping, cooking, and clean up for mealtime. This will not only make preparing a meal less stressful but makes family meals fun and valuable for all!

Limit screen time. Turn off all phones, televisions, and other electronic devices to limit the number of distractions and outside noise present at the dinner table.

Keep it fun & simple. Take a deep breath. Family mealtime should not be a frustrating or daunting task. Whether it’s a formal dinner or a quick snack, no matter how your family comes together it’s all about enjoying each other’s company, having fun, and creating lifelong memories.

Now, let’s bring back this old tradition! Getting family together for a meal can seem difficult but take advantage of whatever opportunity you have to nourish the mind, soul, and stomach of everyone at your table.

Remember: family mealtime is a time to create meaningful memories, strengthen connections, and to have fun as a family!

Your Turn to Take Action: How does your family come together for mealtime? Let me know in the comments below!