Family meals
The importance of the family meal
The family dynamic has changed over the years, that’s for certain. But one thing that has stayed the same is parents’ desire to give their kids the best. At Juliet Mayhew, we believe one easy way to do this is by sharing a family meal together.
Why is a family meal important?
It doesn’t just sound like a good idea – sharing a family meal together is proven to have many positive influences.
Sharing is caring
It can feel like we’re always in demand, whether that's from work or social media, but eating together provides a rare opportunity to enjoy quality time with our loved ones. Sharing our day doesn’t just improve our communication, it can strengthen our family bond. We learn more about each other, can identify any problems and even suggest solutions in a safe environment. It’s no surprise regular family dinners are associated with lower rates of depression among children and better recovery from bullying. It's even proven that family dinners can help children to expand their vocabulary!
Cultivate good behaviour
Encouragingly, children and teens who come from a family that regularly eats together are also less likely to engage in high-risk behaviours such as smoking, substance abuse and violence. After all, mealtimes are an excellent time to impart wholesome family values... and prevent some sleepless nights.
Boosted health
In fact, sharing mealtimes is great for promoting all-round wellness. Those that eat together are twice as likely to get their recommended serving of fruit and veg. And, since talking is common at dinnertimes, you’re also less likely to overeat, helping to curb obesity.
How to share a rewarding family meal together
The benefits of sharing a family meal together are endless! But how do you go about it?
Set a schedule
At least once a week, try to ensure everyone sits down together. If space allows, why not consider inviting others into the mix, such as your child’s friend? If all goes well, you may want to throw a dinner party with friends, neighbours or colleagues every now and again to improve your family’s connections, social skills and world-view.
Serve up wholesome foods
It can be hard to eat a balanced diet when you’re on the go. So, why not stop? Making your own evening meal ensures no hidden nasties, and you can pick and choose the ingredients your family loves best from a host of nutritious superfoods. Try to eat across the rainbow of fruit and veg, such as baked sweet potatoes with cream cheese, chilli, peppers and spinach for a warming main meal, followed by strawberries and blueberries with yoghurt for a delicious and healthy pud!
Start a conversation
Think you know everything there is to know about your family? You’d be surprised! Asking ‘how was your day?’ is often returned with ‘fine’. So ask open-ended questions, like ‘what was the most exciting (or strangest) part of your day?’ Or you could raise a topical issue for discussion. For younger children, the dinner table could be their first introduction to some of the world’s bigger issues.
Be respectful
Mealtimes are a great time to hone your family’s critical thinking and debate skills, but tread carefully! Try and ensure no one talks over each other, and that others’ opinions aren’t shouted down or dismissed out of hand.
Set good manners
By the same token, mealtimes are excellent for setting good manners. There’s the age-old ‘don’t slouch’ and ‘elbows off the table’, but are these appropriate for your family? Perhaps our 21st-century problems call for a new take on the dos and don’ts of table etiquette, such as ‘no devices at the table’ or ‘no television’. And how about washing hands before eating, asking permission to leave and clearing away your own plates?
Have a routine table setting
Having designated places can create a sense of familiarity, making the dinner table a more natural place for family members to gravitate to. Consider interspersing adults or older children between younger members. A different member of the family could even lay the table on a given night. That way they’ll have a shared sense of responsibility, and it allows you a moment of one-to-one bonding.