8 Reasons To Eat Together | Richmond, BC RPC Daycare

How many times a week do you as a family eat together ?
And when you do, how do you eat together ?
Do you have a TV on in the foreground ?
Are there some great conversations that arise out of your time together ?

Research is showing these days that eating as a family has great benefits for your children and teenagers. It's been revealed that families that sit down together to eat 5 - 6 times a week, either for breakfast, lunch or dinner will benefit in the following ways.



8 Reasons to Eat Together:


Reason #1: Communication and Well-Being
Chat times at the dinner table provide chances for the family to bond, plan, connect and learn from one another. Besides having the chance to share about each others day, you get to give extra attention to your children and teens.
Meals together can foster warmth, security and love as well as feelings of belonging.


Reason #2: Model Manners (and more)
Meal times are the perfect place to model appropriate table manners, meal time etiquette and social skills. Its all about the example and children as well as teens learn by absorbing.


Reason # 3: Expand Their World…One Food at a Time
This is a great way to expand your child's horizons ! Try different kinds of foods and expose them to different cultures. Try a New Vegetable from a local farmer's market. Remember it can take up to 8-10 experiences before it is accepted.


Reason #4: Nourish
Meals made and eaten at home are usually more nutritious and healthy and contain more fiber, calcium, vitamins A and C,  which come from our fruits, vegetables and dairy products. A far cry from the regular "Fast Food" that we buy which is deep fried or high in salt.


Reason #5: Become Self-Sufficient
Children today are missing out on how to plan and prepare meals. They're missing basic cooking, baking, and food preparations and even grocery shopping, necessities for being self-sufficient. Involve your family in as many aspects of preparing and cooking your meals as possible no matter how young or old your kids are.


Reason #6: Prevent Destructive Behaviors
studies show that frequent family dinners (5 or more a week) are linked to lower rates of smoking, drinking, and illegal drug use in preteens and teenagers when compared to families that eat together 2 or fewer times per week. Even as children get older, it is important to make an effort to eat together. Just remember to plan ahead of time.


Reason #7: Improve Grades
Children are said to do better in school when they eat more meals with their parents and family, possibly due to the interaction at the table. Teenagers are said to have higher academic performance compared to teenagers who eat with their families 2 or fewer times a week.


Reason # 8: Save Money
Meals bought out side of home costs 2 to 4 times more then meals made at home. Did you know restaurants take a 46% share in the total food dollar, and its all due to scheduling, commitments, and activities. 







It is time to bring the "family" back to the dinner table. It can help ease day-to-day conflicts, as well as establish traditions and memories that can last a lifetime.




FOR MORE READING CHECK OUT THE 
FOLLOWING LINKS:




1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timi-gustafson/family-dinner_b_1898387.html

2. http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=4515

3. http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=4515

4. http://www.superhealthykids.com/healthy-kids-recipes/10-benefits-to-eating-family-dinner.php

5.http://www.heraldpress.com/titles/whateverhappenedtodinner/benefits.html

6. http://www.hhs.gov/ohr/eap/newsletter/spring07.pdf