Today in America, the concept of a family mealtime is vanishing. Kids and their parents are being collectively run ragged with a plethora of time commitments, after school functions and extra curricular activates – all of which seemingly occupy us seven days a week. Studies show that the impact of this lost family time can have disastrous effects on our children, significantly increasing the odds they will engage in drug use, early-age sexual activity, smoking and drinking.
Amazing that something so simple, like a sit down dinner as a family, can help prevent such things! Amazing still that many American families will forego mealtimes together in favor of the constant hustle and bustle of our fast-paced lives. If you do not have enough time to make and eat dinner together, you may have far too much going on. The advantages kids may receive by being involved in so many activities may be all but offset by the statistical disadvantage as outlined in the studies. Also, by having a family dinner at home, you have more control over ensuring your kids eat a balanced and diverse diet and exercise portion control, helping you raise healthy children.
For a young family there is nothing more enjoyable than sitting down for dinner and talking about your day, asking about your kid’s day and listening to what comes out of their mouths. This line of communication is the reason those studies point us to the dinner table – not the food itself.
My wife and I both work full time, so a three-course meal is never being served in my house. That being said, I do make the effort to make something from scratch every night of the week and sit down with my wife and daughter. At least once a week, if not more often, we do a breakfast for dinner – which is always fast, easy and delicious. Most of the meals I prepare involve no more than 2 pots or pans, keeping cleanup time to a minimum, but there are numerous one-pot dinner recipes out there to make the process so easy that you should have no excuses not to do it!
The real point is, no matter what you make or eat, do so together and keep the conversation between parent(s) and child(ren) alive and well. You will have so much fun and will never regret having a family mealtime!
Visit the Families.com Food Blog and find a recipe for dinner tonight.