The importance of having dinner together with families

Yet studies show that the family dinner hour is an important part of healthy living. When families dine together, they tend to eat more vegetables and fruits -- and fewer fried foods, soda, and foods with trans fatsresearch shows. When younger kids frequently eat dinner with their families, they are less likely to be overweight than other children.

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Activities to Strengthen Communications in Family Dynamics Sports practices, PTA meetings, late nights at the office -- with multiple schedules to juggle, many families find it difficult to sit down together for dinner. It may not seem significant, but eating together as a family can give your child an advantage in many areas.

Before you head to the drive-thru or sit in front of the TV for your next meal, consider the impact of sharing a meal with your kids. Improves Healthy Eating Families who eat meals at least three times a week benefit nutritionally compared to peers who do not share as many meals as a family.

The American Academy of Pediatrics examined studies about the impact of family meals on obesity, eating habits and disordered eating. The results showed a 12 percent lower risk of being overweight, a 20 percent decrease in choosing unhealthy eating and a 35 percent lower risk of disordered eating.

Eating together gives you a chance to teach your child about healthy, balanced meals. Preparing the meal together, your child can learn how to cook in a healthy manner.

Curbs Risky Behaviors Teens face peer pressure to engage in risky behaviors, such as smoking, drinking and trying illegal drugs. Families who eat together aren't immune to teens' risky behaviors, but they can reduce the chance of their teens trying drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

Curbs Risky Behaviors

Teens who eat family meals at least five times weekly have a much lower risk of engaging in those behaviors compared to teens who eat two or fewer family meals, according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

The teens who eat frequent family meals also tend to have fewer friends who use drugs. Improves Academic Achievement Family meals won't guarantee A's, but do give your child a better chance at performing well in school. Eating seven family meals together weekly increases the odds of seeing high grades on the report card by 40 percent, according to Columbia's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

Younger children benefit academically by improving social skills, such as communication and taking turns. Discussing events at school and topics your child studies also supports learning and shows her that you have an interest in her learning.

Strengthens Family Relationships Today, families spend many waking hours on the go, but meal time gives you a chance to slow down and be together. That togetherness is an effective way to bond with your kids, giving them a sense of unity and security, according to Kathleen T.

Morgan of Rutgers University. Families practice communication skills by sharing stories during dinner. When you turn off the TV and focus on family conversations at the dinner table, your kids learn to confide in you.The Importance of Eating Together Why should we eat dinner together more often?

Most American families are starved for time to spend together, and dinner may be the only time of the day when we can reconnect, leaving behind our individual pursuits like playing video games, emailing and doing homework.

Despite the feeling that there's no time for such luxuries, 59% of families report eating dinner together at least five times a week—an increase from .

The Norman Rockwell portrait of the family around the dinner table now seems less middle-class and more haute bourgeois, as many families can’t afford to have one parent stay home from work. The importance of a good dinner on our mental health. Dinner offers a great opportunity to do just that, although here in the UK sobering statistics show that not all families are eating together – with 26% of teenagers eating in their rooms or before their parents.

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The importance of dinner | Mental Healthy

Families that eat together make better food choices. One study from Stanford University reported that kids who eat family dinners are less likely to grub on fried food and saturated fats, while seeking out stuff like fruits and veggies.

The Importance of Eating Meals Together As a Family. by SHELLEY FROST Oct. 03, late nights at the office -- with multiple schedules to juggle, many families find it difficult to sit down together for dinner.

It may not seem significant, but eating together as a family can give your child an advantage in many areas. Families who.