As the dining room table becomes less of a gathering place for American families, statistics suggest a return to this piece of furniture may be a good idea. Eating a family meal around the dining table provides many additional benefits, most of which are often overlooked.
Working more and cooking less, Americans are becoming increasingly crunched for time. This leads to a decrease in the amount of meals eaten at the dining table. This trend is apparent in adolescent eating habits as well. From 1998-2005, the number of adolescents who ate dinner with their families increased by 23%. This number has since declined, paralleling the trend in adults. If Americans are forced to choose and prioritize their activities, eating as a family shouldn’t be left out.
Let’s discuss the many benefits of eating as a family. Multiple studies have overwhelmingly pointed to the fact that families who eat together have better overall nutrition, a lower risk of many diseases, and a lower risk of being overweight or obese. One study conducted by Harvard University found that families who reported eating together "every day" or "almost every day" took in more healthy nutrients such as Calcium, Iron, Fiber, B Vitamins, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E, than families who said they "never" or "only sometimes" ate meals together.
Eating around a dining table as a family is good for kids. Studies have found that kids who eat with their families get better grades in school and have a more positive attitude about their future. These same children are also less likely to get involved with negative behaviors like drinking alcohol, taking drugs or smoking. A Columbia University study found that teens who only eat dinner with their families twice a week or less are 3 times as likely to try marijuana, 2.5 times more likely to smoke cigarettes, and 1.5 times as likely to try alcohol compared to teens who eat five or more family dinners a week.
Making your dining room table the most important piece of furniture in your house also improves your child’s language skills. In another Harvard Study, family dinners were the most important event in contributing to a child’s language development. "When there is more than one adult at the table, it tends to make talk richer, topics are established by adult interest and can be extremely valuable opportunities for children to learn," said Dr. Catherine Snow, professor of education at Harvard and the lead researcher of the study.
An additional benefit of gathering the family around the dining table for a meal is the “automatic check-in time”. According to Richard D. Mulieri, a spokesman for the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, "People are really starting to understand that this is an important thing. Families that do have dinner together often are families whose parents are fully engaged with their kids …" Eating dinner regularly provides time for families to open the lines of communication."
It’s a fact: people are crunched for time, but that doesn't mean you have to skip a family dinner around the dining table. If you have children, you will see many benefits of a family dinner. If you don’t, you can still see benefits from eating together around the dining room table. Eating “family meals” with your partner or roommate provides two things most Americans need: better nutrition and more communication. So, gather around your dining table and enjoy a meal!
By George Fischer
Working more and cooking less, Americans are becoming increasingly crunched for time. This leads to a decrease in the amount of meals eaten at the dining table. This trend is apparent in adolescent eating habits as well. From 1998-2005, the number of adolescents who ate dinner with their families increased by 23%. This number has since declined, paralleling the trend in adults. If Americans are forced to choose and prioritize their activities, eating as a family shouldn’t be left out.
Let’s discuss the many benefits of eating as a family. Multiple studies have overwhelmingly pointed to the fact that families who eat together have better overall nutrition, a lower risk of many diseases, and a lower risk of being overweight or obese. One study conducted by Harvard University found that families who reported eating together "every day" or "almost every day" took in more healthy nutrients such as Calcium, Iron, Fiber, B Vitamins, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E, than families who said they "never" or "only sometimes" ate meals together.
Eating around a dining table as a family is good for kids. Studies have found that kids who eat with their families get better grades in school and have a more positive attitude about their future. These same children are also less likely to get involved with negative behaviors like drinking alcohol, taking drugs or smoking. A Columbia University study found that teens who only eat dinner with their families twice a week or less are 3 times as likely to try marijuana, 2.5 times more likely to smoke cigarettes, and 1.5 times as likely to try alcohol compared to teens who eat five or more family dinners a week.
Making your dining room table the most important piece of furniture in your house also improves your child’s language skills. In another Harvard Study, family dinners were the most important event in contributing to a child’s language development. "When there is more than one adult at the table, it tends to make talk richer, topics are established by adult interest and can be extremely valuable opportunities for children to learn," said Dr. Catherine Snow, professor of education at Harvard and the lead researcher of the study.
An additional benefit of gathering the family around the dining table for a meal is the “automatic check-in time”. According to Richard D. Mulieri, a spokesman for the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, "People are really starting to understand that this is an important thing. Families that do have dinner together often are families whose parents are fully engaged with their kids …" Eating dinner regularly provides time for families to open the lines of communication."
It’s a fact: people are crunched for time, but that doesn't mean you have to skip a family dinner around the dining table. If you have children, you will see many benefits of a family dinner. If you don’t, you can still see benefits from eating together around the dining room table. Eating “family meals” with your partner or roommate provides two things most Americans need: better nutrition and more communication. So, gather around your dining table and enjoy a meal!
By George Fischer
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