Today’s Family Meal is Difficult to Schedule but Worth It!
When I was raising my three sons, who are now 45, 47, 49 years old the family meal was difficult because they were involved in sports, clubs, working and then there was their social life but as a registered dietitian I was determined to make it happen and it did at 3 nights a week but it wasn’t easy.
Today, I am a grandmother of 13 and when I grandparent I find that it’s very difficult to have a sit-down family meal. I usually fix a healthy meal and then they warm it up in the microwave when they get home from soccer, basketball, tennis, dance practice and clubs. They might have the nutritional benefits from the healthy meal but not any of the other benefits highlighted below.
Here are some of the specific benefits of family dinners by children and teens are:
- Better academic performance
- Higher self-esteem
- Greater sense of resilience
- Lower risk of substance abuse
- Lower risk of teen pregnancy
- Lower risk of depression
- Lower likelihood of developing eating disorders
- Lower rates of obesity
- Better cardiovascular health in teens
- Bigger vocabulary in preschoolers
- Healthier eating patterns in young adults
There are also benefits for adults, including:
- Better nutrition with more fruits and vegetables and less fast food
- Less dieting
- Increased self-esteem
- Lower risk of depression
Family Dinner Project
When I was researching information for this blog, I found the Family Dinner Project. The Family Dinner Project website has lots a really great resources for families and how to create an Family Meal that you and your children will apprectiate. There are some really great recipes on this website as well.https://thefamilydinnerproject.org/
Resources
https://thefamilydinnerproject.org/about-us/benefits-of-family-dinners/
https://thefamilydinnerproject.org/food/
https://thefamilydinnerproject.org/fun/
https://thefamilydinnerproject.org/conversation/
https://thefamilydinnerproject.org/blog/research-shows-family-dinner-improves-literacy/
https://goodlifefamilymag.com/2024/03/20/why-family-dinners-matter-the-science-of-eating-together/
By Barbara Day, M.S., R.D. is a registered dietitian with a Master’s Degree in clinical nutrition. She is the Chief Blog Organizer for www.DayByDayLiving.net
Barbara is currently the Grammy Grizzlies National Group Leader for Moms for America where she presents a weekly Facebook Live: Wellness Wednesday and nutrition & wellness blogs on Grammy Grizzlie Facebook Page. www.momsforamerica.us
Barbara worked as a research nutritionist with the military’s tri-service medical school & working as a performance nutrition consultant to Navy SEALS’ BUD/S Training Program and West Coast active Navy SEAL Teams. Barbara is the former nutrition performance consultant to the University of Louisville Athletic Department. She is the author of Fast Facts on Fast Food For Fast People and High Energy Eating Sports Nutrition Workbook for Active People used by the University of Louisville, University of Tennessee Lady Vols and the Tennessee football program, the LSU basketball program, the Buffalo Bills, the Cleveland Browns and by the United States Navy SEALs.
The former publisher of Kentuckiana HealthFitness Magazine, Kentuckiana Healthy Woman magazine and radio show host of Health News You Can Use, Barbara has over 50 years of experience in promoting healthy lifestyles to consumers. Barbara is a former runner who walks, a spinner, pickleball player, hiker, a mother and grandmother to 13 grandchildren.
