The Dining Table - a Family-Saving Miracle

When it comes to mealtimes, does your family share the experience around the dining table? Or do you all rush around, eating at different times and in different places? These days it's common to get the kids fed and watered after school and then move them on, perhaps to do homework or watch TV. Then it's time for the adults to have their meal in peace. Sound familiar? Then you – and your kids - might be missing out on the most important and satisfying part of family life. The bonding, communication and understanding you should have by spending quality time eating together as a unit.

Many people sit in an armchair with their meals perched on their laps, watching TV as they eat. Others wolf down their dinners between emails and other computer work. And the kids are left to grab junk food as they race between home and after-school clubs. These are all symptomatic of today's busy lifestyles that we all lead, whatever our age.

For the children though, such a haphazard and chaotic lifestyle can cause problems, both socially and nutritionally. The solution is simple, and involves getting those dusty dining tables out of the garage or wherever else you stashed them when you decided they were no longer needed.

The best way to change family life for the better is to prepare freshly cooked food, rather than getting pre-packaged ready meals (which are often full of salt and other preservatives) and get the children involved. Kids often take their cues from their parents, even down to which foods they like and which they dislike. There is evidence that youngsters who eat meals with the whole family tend to get exposed to a diverse range of different ingredients, and are more willing to accept them as part of their general diet. This includes eating more vegetables than other children who don't gather round the dining table with their parents and siblings.

Eating together, helping to prepare the meals, and getting exposed to a wider range of different food items also helps to stop youngsters trying to dictate what they want to eat, which can otherwise be junk food or a nutritionally very restricted diet.

Getting family routine sorted out is a great way to ensure the everybody touches base at least once a day. And saving an area for a dining table and chairs reinforces the happy and positive experience. If possible, this should be in a separate room, or in the kitchen if large enough. Absolutely no TV.

All sitting and enjoying good healthy food together is great for family bonding, and there should not be any disciplining of the children; let mealtimes be a time when the kids can talk about their day at school, what they got up to, and allow them to bring up any problems they may be having. This will build strong emotional bonds and trust between all the family members.

Apart from the substantial social and emotional benefits of taking meals together as a unit, it has also been reported that teenagers tend to drink less soda, preferring milk or water, since this is what they get used to at family mealtimes. There is also some evidence that kids who eat with their family are less prone to alcohol and drug abuse. This is a compelling reason to drag that dining table out of hiding and use it! Especially if it prevents the relationship breakdowns that frequently occur when one of the members gets hooked on a substance like alcohol or marijuana.

So heed the saying that “the family that eats together stays together” and as parents, give your kids a gift that keeps on giving. Habits instilled into them early on in life generally stay with them into adulthood, and will undoubtedly get passed onto your grandchildren, and beyond!

Jen and Barb talk to Dr Linda Klinow about the importance of family dinner times.