Relationships February 17, 2017
It’s been one of those nightmare days from start to finish. Not only did you leave your presentation notes at home, but you hit every red light on the way back and now you have to deal with your son’s failing math grade.
Whatever caused your stress, it’s important to talk about it with loved ones instead of keeping your frustrations bottled inside. And what’s a better way to do this than around a dinner table with food? When you eat as a family, you can actually leave the table feeling more than just satiated: you can feel less stressed and tense, too.
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Here are five expert-backed reasons you should gather around the table with your family more often.
Licensed marriage and family therapist Ashley Cox of Lighthouse Psychological Services explains that sitting down for a meal with your family is great for the brain, body and spirit.
“Several studies have shown that family dinners boost mood, conversation, vocabulary and create positive feelings in children and teenagers,” she tells ENTITY. “Children who eat with the family engage in conversation and will learn more words than their peers that do not have a regular dinner. Scientists have found that children who have regular dinners know six times more words that are rare and show greater school performance. Research has also shown that adolescents are two times more likely to get As when having a family meal five to seven times per week.”
According to Health, family dinners are the perfect setting to try new foods. This is supported by a 2003 study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, in which children ate more sweet red pepper after being offered the food each day for eight school days. The findings suggest that kids will enjoy new foods if they’re exposed to them more.
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Eating together as a family allows parents to exercise healthy communication skills without distractions from technology like smart phones and televisions. This engagement in each other’s lives through communication teaches every family member how to listen and allows children to have an active voice within the family.
“Family dinners build bonds that promote open and honest communication with parents,” Cox explains. “When family dinners are a regular part of the family dynamic, the result is more positive interactions within the family unit and resiliency for kids and teens. This is a time of connection amid busy weeks of school, work and homework.
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“The dinner table is a place to share events, thoughts and engage in meaningful conversation and laughter. The family dinner is also an opportunity to trouble shoot childhood problems brought to discussion at table such as bullying and academic struggles.”
The conversations at a dinner table help niche stronger relationships among parents and their kids, which is an effective tool to help prevent drug abuse. Cox cites Columbia University’s report, “The Importance of Family Dinners VI,” which found that teens who have fewer than three family dinners per week are more likely to use tobacco, alcohol and marijuana.
“Adolescents who have regular family meals are less likely to have friends [who] abuse substances and more likely to feel positive feelings toward approaching parents,” Cox explains. “The studies have also shown a lower risk of substance abuse when children leave home. A family dinner at least five to seven times a week pays dividends into the future.”
According to the article The Importance of Family Dinners, published by The University of Florida, eating dinner with your family encourages healthy eating habits because you are able to control portion sizes. You can increase the intake of veggies and water while decreasing fried foods and soda. The article also states family meals is linked to the intake of protein, calcium and some vitamins.
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Who knew that having dinner as a family could not only transform the way you eat, but also the way you feel, think and talk too? Now, that is one buffet of benefits.
