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    Home » Blog

    5 Incredible Benefits of Eating Together as a Family

    Published: Sep 27, 2020 · Modified: May 18, 2021 by Marcie Groller · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Who knew that when we have family meals together, our kids benefit from this special time! Check out five benefits of eating together as a family along with some of our MOST POPULAR recipes to eat with your loved ones.

    brother and sister eating together as a family at the dinner table
    Jump to:
    • 🤔 What is Family Mealtime?
    • 👍 Benefits of Eating Together as a Family
    • 🥣 Top Recipes to Eat Together as a Family

    🤔 What is Family Mealtime?

    Family mealtime is when family members join together to share a meal at breakfast, lunch and/or dinnertime.

    Growing up my family did a pretty great job of prioritizing family mealtime. When dinner was ready, the TV went off, a ringing phone was left ignored, and we all sat together to enjoy a homemade meal. Naturally, as a kid I often groaned when it came time to turn off the screen. But looking back, I think this predictable daily ritual gave me a sense of comfort and consistency that I want to share with my own family now. 

    👍 Benefits of Eating Together as a Family

    There is a great deal of research to support the benefits of eating together as a family. It's not surprising that family mealtime helps build relationships between family members. Yet, it is surprising that family dinners can also support kids' mental health and protect against teenage substance use. 

    Check out some of the awesome benefits of family meals as well as some tips for making eating together as a family a successful and fun experience!

    1. Support Healthy Eating and Portion Control

    mother and child stirring a bowl of ingredients

    When grown-ups cook with fresh ingredients at home, they know exactly which ingredients are going into their kid's meal (and how much of them!). Family dinners also give grown-ups a chance to model healthy eating and teach kids about proper portion control. In fact, a 2018 study in the Obesity Reviews Journal found a relationship between frequent family meals and better nutritional health among kids.

    💡Tip: Consider asking your kids to help you make dinner! According to the America Institute for Cancer Research, cooking with your kids has some real educational benefits, like boosting self-esteem and fostering healthy eating habits.

    2. Build Relationships

    child and grandmother eating together as a family

    Our lives can get so busy. It's nice to stop everything and take the time to connect with our family. Mealtime is a great opportunity to ask each other about his or her day, make plans, or joke around together. It's also a great time to model family traditions or teach values (e.g., praying before a meal, using table manners, etc).

    💡Tip: Keep mealtime conversation positive and save more serious or discipline-related topics for another time. 

    3. Protect Against Substance Use

    child eating steak with veggies

    Family dinners can reduce kids' likelihood of trying illegal substances. A study conducted by the National Center on Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University found that compared to teens who have frequent family dinners (5 or more per week), teens who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than 3 per week) are four times as likely to smoke, two and a half times more likely to use marijuana and more than twice as likely to use alcohol.

    It's truly amazing how eating together as a family can have such long-lasting benefits!

    💡Tip: To keep family meals intimate and free of distractions, consider making this a screen- and phone-free time. 

    4. Support Mental Health and Well-Being

    child eating chicken and salad

    So many children crave undivided attention from their parents. Mealtime is a great chance for grown-ups to focus on their kids, observe their moods, and learn about what is going on in their lives. And kids benefit from this special time with their family. A Canadian Study published in the Canadian Family Physician Journal found a positive relationship between frequent family meals and increased self-esteem and school success.

    💡Tip: Consider taking turns sharing two of the BEST things that happened in your day as well as one of the HARDEST parts of your day.

    5. Teach Social Skills and Responsible Behaviors

    child clearing avocado off plate

    When we eat together as a family, kids can practice their social skills, like asking questions, taking turns talking, and sharing food (i.e., choosing to split the last piece of toast). Family mealtime also allows very young kids to practice their emerging fine motor and language skills. Finally, mealtime can help reinforce responsible behaviors, like helping out with dinnertime chores. Such involvement can boost kids' self-esteem and help them feel like valuable members of the family.

    💡Tip: Consider letting kids choose a way to help out during mealtime. For example, one child can set the table, one can dish up the meal, and one can be in charge of clearing the dishes. 

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    🥣 Top Recipes to Eat Together as a Family

    Easiest Turkey Burger Sliders
    Behold the most simple, tasty and juicy TURKEY BURGER SLIDERS! These sliders are perfect for little hands and will satisfy the whole family!
    Click for Turkey Burger Sliders
    turkey burger sliders with cheese on a plate
    Best Mini Egg Bites with Ham and Cheese
    Not to brag, but our mini egg bites have the most fabulous identity crisis. So versatile they can be a to-go snack breakfast-for-dinner OR lunchbox item OR part of a breakfast-for-dinner. You decide how to eat them!
    Click for Mini Egg Bites with Ham and Cheese
    mini egg bites on a wooden table
    Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe
    This Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe is the real deal! Make these quick and delicious sandwiches in under 30 minutes with only ONE pan!
    Click for Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes
    three sloppy joes with meat spilling out
    Spaghetti Tuna Casserole
    Our spaghetti tuna casserole has ALL the flavor of traditional tuna casserole but made in 28 minutes or less! Try it tonight!
    Click for Spaghetti Tuna Casserole
    tuna casserole in casserole dish
    Best Philly Cheesesteak Recipe
    You don't need to go to Philly for a cheesesteak! Make the real deal at home with our mouthwatering, and ONE PAN Easy Philly Cheesesteaks recipe.
    Best Philly Cheesesteak Recipe
    Philly cheesesteak on white plate
    Creamy Vegetable Pasta
    Our creamy vegetable pasta is true comfort food. Veggies, pasta, cheese...you can't go wrong! Make it in under 30 minutes tonight!
    Click for Creamy Vegetable Pasta
    creamy vegetable pasta in spoon
    Ground Turkey Spaghetti with Hidden Veggies
    Have veggie-averse kiddos? We've got you covered! Try our simple and delicious ground turkey spaghetti with hidden carrots and mushrooms!
    Click for Ground Turkey Spaghetti
    white, big bowl of spaghetti with meat sauce and cheese on red tablecloth
    Chicken Pea Skillet with Rice
    Satisfy the whole family with our Creamy Chicken Pea Skillet with Rice! This dish is kid-tested, delicious and incredibly simple to make (you only need ONE pan!).
    Click for Chicken Pea Skillet with Rice
    chicken, rice and peas in small blue crockpot with lid on side
    Simple Pesto Pasta
    You'll fall in ❤️ with our Pesto Pasta with fresh, roasted vegetables. Nothing beats a light, delicious dish that's also easy and fast to make. It's summertime, baby!
    Click for Simple Pesto Pasta
    hand holding fork and bowl of pasta with roasted veggies and pesto sauce
    Crescent Roll Hot Dogs
    These Crescent Roll Hot Dogs make the PERFECT quick and tasty weeknight meal! Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside!
    Click for Crescent Roll Hot Dogs
    hot dogs in crescent rolls on plate

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    We are two sisters with young kids who want to help simplify mealtime for busy families! Platein28 is our family’s unofficial guide to wading through mealtime chaos. Here you will find quality recipes that take 28 minutes or less, with activities to occupy your kids so you can actually cook.

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