Here at Advent, we are big believers in the power of family meals. We know schedules get messy, and family members all like different foods. And we won’t deny that it can just be flat out hard to coordinate everyone sitting down at the same time. But we absolutely believe it is worth all the effort. We aren’t just saying it because it sounds nice, or to make parents feel guilty. We are saying it because there is actual hard evidence that shows the undeniable value of family meal time. Regular family meals can enhance a child’s vocabulary (even more than reading books!). They can also decrease a child’s risk for obesity and lead to higher fruit and vegetable intake. And my personal favorite on the list: a better parent-child relationship. Because who doesn’t want that?!?
Check out this post from the founder of The Family Dinner Project to read about more of the awesome benefits of family meals. And poke around the site for tips on getting started if you’re new at this.
https://thefamilydinnerproject.org/food-for-thought/science-eat-dinner-together/
