Your Health
Family Meals
“The best strategy for improving a child’s diet is simply putting food on the table and sitting down together to eat.”
~New York Times
Family meals have a positive impact on the health and well-being of families and individuals. Today’s families have limited time to eat together.
How is family mealtime saving the world?
Mentally
- Increasing grade point averages
- Improving vocabulary
- More motivation at school
Emotionally
- Decreasing depression
- Increasing self-esteem
- Stronger sense of belonging and security
- Limiting family tension
- Decreasing behavioral problems
Physically
- Lowers obesity rates
- Less eating disorders
- Limits the use of cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs
Socially
- Better adjusted adolescents
- Improved communication
- Development of values and traditions
- Strengthened family bonds
- Less violence
Nutritionally
- Healthier foods consumed
- More fruits, vegetables, calcium, iron, fiber, and vitamins
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Learn more about family meals through this video on Family Mealtime and tips on how to make them a part of your family life. Set a goal of eating together as a family once a day, involve all family members, and make it a meaningful time.
The Food$ense Program at Utah State University provides ideas to make family mealtimes realistic and enjoyable, including quick mealtime ideas. Food$ense also provides information on getting the most nutritious bang for your buck on Cooking...it's a SNAP, Eat Well Utah and Table For One. The USU Extension through Live Well Utah has also made a cookbook available full of healthy recipes and tips for a successful family mealtime.
The Snappily Ever After blog offers valuable nutritional help and budget friendly cooking strategies for families.