Ringing in the New Year brings a fresh opportunity to rethink your family's priorities.
Barely one-quarter of us manages dinner as a family once a week. Doesn't it belong on your family's schedule more frequently this coming year?
Here's Why:
Research indicates teens who eat meals with their families several times per week are less likely to engage in drug or alcohol abuse.
According to a study earlier this year, eating together means family members will eat a better diet and perform better in school.
Most important, family meals are a top-notch way to deepen caring and support of each other.
Practical Guidelines
Choose a minimum of two days per week where family mealtime is priority No. 1. Even if your family eats together for only a half-hour before jumping back into their normal busy routine, scheduled family mealtime should be sacrosanct.
Family mealtime does not have to occur only during dinner. Opt for Sunday breakfast or Saturday lunch if these are times the whole family can be together.
Keep distractions to a minimum. Turn off the TV and turn on the CD player instead. Classical music or quiet jazz makes a nice background. Let the kids take turns playing disc jockey.
Eat at home. Dining in a restaurant may not allow for the same family focus that being at home does.
Include the whole family in menu planning. It's unfair to put the burden on one person to plan, shop and prepare the meals. Even toddlers can help set the table.
Meals do not have to be elaborate: Food to go, sandwiches or a quick egg dish will work. Do an online search for "quick meals."
Food for the Soul
Make a conscious effort to include all the children in mealtime discussions; don't engage in exclusive adult-to-adult topics. Bonus: children will learn to expand their social skills.
Need an icebreaker? Talk about your own childhood experiences. Let your kids know you once felt just like they do.
Your discussions do not have to center on schoolwork or family chores. Talk about vacation or weekend plans. Get everyone involved and excited.
Family meals don't have to be formal. Play a board game (trading bites with moves) or sing a song together. Tell jokes or talk about the funniest thing that happened that day. Laughter is good for the digestion.
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