As some sites have noted, having meals together as a family can be difficult. Work, school, hobbies, and other things can get in the way, reducing the time you have to plan, prepare, and cook a proper family meal. Yet, research has shown that family meals can have significant benefits: better diet quality for parents and children, better socioemotional development for kids, reduced likelihood of youth engaging in risky behaviors (e.g., smoking), less time spent sedentary, and lower rates of overweight and obesity in youth, just to name a few. With all of the benefits family meals can have, it’s worth putting in the effort to increase how often you have them. Improving your own eating habits can be a great start, and it can help you improve the eating habits of your children. Here are some tips supported by research to help establish a routine of eating family meals together, and to get the most benefit out of your family meals:
Healthy Families Lab 