A very popular saying goes, “A family that eats together, stays together”. But in today’s fast-paced world, how often do we actually sit and have meals together with our family? In this article, we shall be discussing some benefits that you may be losing out on if you either come home late from work or hesitate to sit down with your spouse, kids and in-laws to eat.
* Good Eating EtiquetteWhen families eat together, they spend time doing one of the most enjoyable things in the world, and that is eating food. Children who have meals with their parents tend to have better emotional health and also good eating etiquette and manners.
* Better Eating ChoicesBecause you are eating with your family, you would make food choices that are healthy for everybody. This means lesser junk and healthier food options. Also, children observe their parents and tend to pick up the eating habits of their parents.
* Openness to New FoodsWhen you eat together with your children, they observe their parents eating different kinds of foods. Slowly and gradually, they also start eating those foods and are open towards any new food items that you may introduce as they grow.
* Better Bonding With Family MembersEating meals together is a great way of spending quality time with your family, and building better bonds too. When family meals become a routine, it provides a sense of security to the child, and he starts developing a sense of belonging towards the family. Also, dinner is the best time to share the day’s events with family members.
* Better Performance in SchoolThere have been studies that indicated that children who ate six to seven meals in a week with their family performed better academically than children who ate not as frequently with their families. Therefore, eating together as a family is not only beneficial for your child’s emotional and physical health but also for his academics.