A family that eats together, stays together!

Have you noticed that it is increasingly uncommon for families to gather around the table and have a meal together? More and more it seems everyone just grabs dinner and goes their own way. Gone are the days of sitting around the dining room table. Discussing the days happenings and enjoying each others company. All while partaking in a delicious meal.

Sign of the times

Fast food, MTV, the Internet, video games and the privacy of one’s own room seem to be the order of the day. If this sounds familiar, you are missing an incredible opportunity to bond and get to know your family. If you think about it, when do you have time to just sit and talk, ask questions and exchange ideas? Not very often in our fast paced lives.

Imagine that!

A key benefit, according to a study by Harvard, is that “children who ate family dinners more frequently had more healthy eating habits”. This seemed to be true, even when eating away from home. But don’t get too excited, I don’t think Molly will be eating spinach over at Cindy’s house any time soon!

The Odd Couple

In our house we have always tried to eat together. Even fast food. Most nights we eat around the dining room table. On the weekends we eat in the family room and watch a movie. Because we have always done it this way, our kids think it’s strange that their friends eat alone.

My wife and I have an unwritten rule, whoever gets home first, starts dinner. I usually get home late, so she starts and I finish and serve. On the weekend, I usually cook. It has worked out well for years.

Ready, Steady, Go!

So, if eating together has vanished from your life, are you ready for a comeback? OR, if you have never done it, are you willing to try? Take baby steps, order a pizza and announce to the kids that “we” are going to eat at the family table tonight. Ask your kids what kind of day they had. Listen. Guide the conversation. Make it fun. You will be glad you did. Before you know it, this will become the “norm”.

Tagged as: dinner • Family