The Magic of the Family Meal

In the most recent issue of Time, there is a fabulous article about the importance of eating dinner together as a family. This is something that I feel very passionately about, and here are a few reasons (as mentioned in the article) why you should, too.

Families who make meals a priority also tend to spend more time on reading for pleasure and homework.

It promotes balance and variety in kids' diets. More family meals means less soda and fried foods, and far more fruits and vegetables.

Young children pick up vocabulary and a sense of how conversation is structured. They hear how a problem is solved, learn to listen to other people's concerns and respect their tastes. They learn to share.

Kids learn how to be civilized. They learn proper table manners.

It gives kids a sense of belonging to their family. This is where a family builds its identity and culture. Legends are passed down, jokes rendered, eventually the wider world examined through the lens of a family's values.


We always had dinner together as a family when I was growing up, and it is something that we do in our family now, too. It gives us a chance to be together without the regular distractions. My kids are little, and I know that this will only become more important as they grow. So as the article says, pull up some chairs, lose the tv, let the phone go unanswered, and see where the moment takes you.