Between school, homework, part-time jobs, social outings, and extracurricular activities, adolescents are always on the go. Sometimes it’s hard to coordinate parents and teens to be in the house together for more than a few minutes! Since our families are so busy, many of us have turned eating into an afterthought. Everyone just grabs what they can whenever they are able. While this is very understandable considering the pressures on our schedules, there are some very good reasons to prioritize family meals at home. Today’s blog explores why and how we should sit down together to eat.
Reasons to Prioritize Family Meals
Research indicates that eating meals together as a family provides many benefits to teens:
- Healthier meals and improved nutrition.
- Better grades and academic success.
- Less tension in the home and better family unity.
- Less behavior problems at home and school.
- Decreased chance of being overweight.
- Less likely to use drugs.
- Increased self-esteem and resiliency.
The truth is that families talk more when they sit together for meals. Parents are more likely to hear about problems in their kids’ lives, and teens are more likely to feel their parents are interested in them. Research also shows that eating at home together is associated with fewer psychological issues and increased sociability in the family. With all of these great benefits, it’s a worthy goal to try to eat more meals together.
Tips for Making Family Meals Happen
Do family meals just feel impossible with your crazy schedules? Take baby steps. Add one family meal per week to your schedule and see how it goes. Here are some helpful strategies:
Set an expectation and pick a time. The only way to make family meals happen is to be clear that it’s a priority. Every month, sit down with your family and synchronize schedules. Make note of work commitments, school activities, and other appointments. Slot in a few consistent family dinner dates that work for everyone. Even if it’s just once or twice a week, that’s a start!
Be creative. It doesn’t have to be a family dinner at 6pm to count. Breakfast before school or lunch on a weekend might be an easier time to gather than dinner. Or maybe everyone shows up at the house at 9pm starved – work with that time!
Keep it simple. Finding the time to cook is certainly one of the biggest obstacles, but family meals do not have to be elaborate. Here are a couple of tips:
- Get the family involved. Let everyone help prepare the meal and set the table.
- Use a slow cooker. Throw everything together before leaving for work in the morning so it’s ready when you get home.
- Cook a big batch of soup or a double batch of a casserole over the weekend, and then freeze some to make weekday dinners easier.
- Some meals can be thrown together quickly with help from store-bought ingredients. Search online for meals prepared in less than 30 minutes.
Unplug. Turn off the TV and keep all electronics away from the table. Keep the focus on having conversation with one another without distractions. Studies show that meals distracted by technology do not carry the same benefits as those eaten “unplugged.”
Make it fun. Leave serious discussions for another time and make your mealtime enjoyable. Keep the conversations positive. Don’t pressure your teen to talk about anything specific, but have conversation starters ready to begin a good chat if everyone falls silent. Keep the meal welcoming, and encourage everyone to share about their day.
Final Thoughts…
Family dinners are more than just meals. They create reconnection, a sense of belonging, and memories that last a lifetime. As we navigate our busy lives, these moments can be anchors to our most important priorities.