The benefits of family dinners

There is a growing amount of research that shows sitting down for a family meal five or more times a week improves the emotional health and well-being of all family members.

This includes:

· Increased likelihood of eating healthier foods, specifically more fruit and vegetable intake and less fried foods and soft drinks

· Improved school performance

· Decreased rates of anxiety and mood disorders in teens

· Decreased rates of high-risk behaviors in teens, including cigarettes, alcohol and drugs

· Decreased obesity rates

· Increased likelihood to maintain a healthy weight as adults

· Lower rates of disordered eating habits

· Lower rates of depressive symptoms and suicide attempts in adolescents

· Higher levels of self-esteem, self-efficacy, and well-being in adolescents

It is our recommendation that you prioritize this time with your family and set goals of having at least five family meals a week around your dinner table!

Reference: Swick, S. D., & Jellinek, M. S. (2019, August). Family dinners are good medicine. Pediatric News, 144(2), 12–13.