Do you regularly share family mealtime together?
Time Health Magazine states:
“It’s in the teenage years that this daily investment [of eating together] pays some of its biggest dividends.
Studies show that the more often families eat together, the less likely kids are to smoke, drink, do drugs, get depressed, develop eating disorders and consider suicide, and the more likely they are to do well in school, delay having sex, eat their vegetables, learn big words and know which fork to use.
Family mealtime is about civilizing children.
It’s about teaching them to be a member of their culture.”
Family Mealtime
The researchers found essentially that family mealtime gets better with practice; the less often a family eats together, the worse the experience is likely to be, the less healthy the food and the more meager the talk.
Also they say, the older that kids are, the more they may need this protected time together, but the less likely they are to get it. Busyness and parental self-interest seems to be the culprit.
Consider keeping family mealtime together a year-round resolution. You may be wanting to lose weight, get more sleep, or spend less, but sitting down to share a meal together gives far more lasting benefits.
Taking a meal together allows for talking over current events, praying together, and enjoying each other’s presence. Memories are made at the table. No matter how simple the fare, it will keep on paying dividends well into the next generation.
There is something about a shared meal – not once in awhile but regularly, reliably – that anchors a family. “No dessert until you’ve finished your dinner” translates into a lifetime of healthy habits. Our first life lessons happen at the family dinner table.
Certainly physical nourishment is important but when we share a meal together we share much more. We share our time. We slow down if for just a minute and show that we have time to take interest in others, to care for them, and open our hearts to them – to show them love.
Such communion acts as a kind of inoculation, protecting children’s hearts from all manner of harm.
Update: When I wrote this our young people are almost 19, 19, and 21.
We were their confidants and coaches, and they desired our time. I made sure the blog and other duties didn’t take over family mealtime.
They still do, even though they are all married now and don’t live as close. We look for ways to enjoy meals together whenever we can. Vacations together are especially social times of cooking and meals together.
So turn off the radio or the TV (better yet, get rid of the TV), pull up the chairs, pull out a simple pretty tablecloth, let an answering machine take the calls (or turn of the sound on your phone), and just see where this good habit will take you!
“Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.” ~Prov. 15: 17
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Kasey
Good morning, Friend! Hope you have a wonderful day!
Bambi @ In the Nursery of the Nation
Jacqueline, This post is what so many of us need to hear! We have no TV 🙂 But we can still let our own selfishness as parents lure us away from what’s most important. My link-up today is a blog repellent 🙂 A reminder to MYSELF to keep the main thing, the main thing. I love blogging and meeting other Christian women with the same convictions about home and family–so rare. But even that good thing (a blessing) can be lifted too high.
I always appreciate your posts so much! So edifying. Thank you for taking the time to encourage us all.
Bambi
PS: Got the package yesterday from the giveaway–thanks again!
Bambi @ In the Nursery of the Nation
Jacqueline–I accidentally made a boo-boo and duplicated my link-up. Can you please remove the first one that has my email address as the title (yikes!)
Jacqueline
Bambi, Consider it done!! *big smile*
Annie Kate
Yes, family meal times are so very, very important. The children and I eat all of our meals together, and my husband joins us when possible. No radio, only peaceful music occasionally. Lots of laughter, and Bible time, and often story time. It’s a haven in our days.
Now that our son has to be out of the house early, it’s a bit tricky to have breakfasts with him, but we usually still manage.
A blessed new year to you and yours!
Annie Kate
Jacqueline
Annie, Wondering what the age of your son is…maybe that we had our oldest close to the same time!! Our Caleb will be 21 in January. It does make it a bit harder.
Annie Kate
No, our son is 16, but our oldest will be 19 in January. She lives quite a ways away, close to her work.
It’s amazing to have older ‘children’ isn’t it?
Annie Kate
Rhonda Devine
Couldn’t agree more–the family table is SO important in building relationships with our children. Love this post!
Jacinda @ Growing Home
Another great post, Jacqueline. The family meal table is something I too often take for granted. I grew up on a farm and my we ate three meals a day together (Dad included) with the whole family (we were homeschooled, so all the five (now six) of us siblings were always there too). Those are such precious memories. So many great conversations with great people, enjoying great food. It’s definitely a tradition my husband and I are working to carry over into our home!
p.s. I love your new profile picture! When I get to be your age, I think I should like to look just like you. 😉
Heather @ Raising Mighty Arrows
Thank you for another great place to link up, Jacqueline!
I would love to hear more about your internet accountability system and would also like to talk to you about Vintage Handmade Soaps. Please email me at [email protected]
Have a great day!~
Maria
Hi Jacqueline! What a wonderful blog you have here! Thank you so much for inviting me to join in your link up. I will be back for sure.
Blessings, Maria
Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage
I was very blessed to be raised in a home where my mother was a homemaker, and we ate nearly EVERY meal at home– together, around the table.
Now, I am married to a minister and have a growing little family of my own. Family meals are always shared together… we almost take it for granted, I guess, because it is just ‘normal’ for us.
Thank you for this beautiful post, my friend!
Mara Wildflower
What an important message that you have shared with us today! Although currently, it’s just my husband and I in the home, I make sure that we always have dinner together, even if it’s not that fancy. Of course, there are times when I “fail” in this resolve, but it’s so important to share a meal with my husband, especially since he works so hard to support our family and provide for our needs. One way I can show him this appreciation is by wanting to have a meal with him.
Another great post, and I also enjoyed the art work that you chose for this post as well. 🙂
Charis
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this subject, Mrs. Jacqueline! Often we spend well over two hours at our supper table discussing, talking, sharing, etc. It is a wonderful highlight of the day!
Annie Kate
I recently finished reading Courageous Living. It’s a great book, worth discussing around the dinner table even.
Annie Kate
Tauna
This is a wonderful post. We love it when we are able to do family dinners. We struggle with it sometimes because my husband does shift work. However, this inspires me to make it a priority whether he’s able to join us or not.
Nicol
Hello, this is my first time visiting! What a sweet blog! The mealtime exhortation is so relevant and I love your pictures! God Bless.
Adriana
Thanks for all you share! In our home we always eat together, and it is the best time of the day:)