Families have changed a lot in the last 50 years. More women have entered the workforce, giving families the benefit of two incomes, single-parent families are also more common, and kids are involved in more after-school activities than previous generations. All of this has led to changes in family dynamics and ultimately leaves us with busier lives and fuller schedules. While there are benefits to our current lifestyle, we cannot deny the fact that a designated family dinnertime has suffered. Before you brush family dinner aside as a thing of the past, consider the benefits of making it a priority.
Picky eaters
When families eat dinner at home, they are more likely to be exposed to a well-rounded diet and healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. The foods we eat are usually made from fresh ingredients as well. Families who eat on the go often turn to fast food or quick meals because of convenience. These options are typically higher in fat and calories and are loaded with sodium. Picky eaters who are exposed to more fruits and vegetables at home are more likely to try new foods over time.
Portion Control
Families who eat at home control the portion size served. This helps teach kids healthy eating habits. “Over the past few years, portions have grown significantly in restaurants, as has the frequency of Americans’ eating out. Bigger portions can mean that you’re getting more food than your body can stomach to maintain a healthy weight,” according to Heart.org. Eating proper portions along with a variety of healthy foods will teach kids how to maintain a healthy lifestyle as they become adults.
Opens communication
Dinnertime is a great opportunity to catch up with what is going on with each family member. Try going around the table and having each person state the high and low of the day. This gives all members of the family a time to share the best and worst of their day and opens further discussion. Giving the family a designated time to talk helps connect members to each other and opens the lines of communication between them.
Saves money
Americans spend an average of $3,639 eating out each year, roughly $300 each month. “And those fast-food meals and restaurant tabs continue to add up,” RamseySolutions.com says. “In fact, Americans spent 20% more eating out in 2022 than they did in 2021.” These numbers show that families can save a lot of money by eating at home.
Long-term positive benefits for kids
According to TheFamilyDinnerProject.org, kids who share dinners with their family several times a week are more likely to have higher self-esteem, have a lower risk of depression and are less likely to develop eating disorders. Kids are also more likely to have better grades and graduate high school.
Practical ways to make family dinner a priority
- Schedule a consistent time for dinner.
- Plan meals ahead to save prep time.
- Serve simple meals like leftovers or cold sandwiches on busy weeknights.
- Don’t overschedule your family.
- Unplug. Keep family dinner free from electronics.
- Make a commitment to prioritize family dinner.
Making time for family dinner can be difficult, but these great benefits make it worth the effort. If your family schedule is complicated, start with one family dinner per week and slowly increase the frequency. It will not take long to see the benefits accruing for every family member involved.
10 Ways to Simplify Family Dinner
Many parents find themselves so busy with work, school, extracurricular activities and errands that cooking weeknight meals seems impossible. In reality, eating at home can be faster, easier and more affordable—even on those busy school nights. Try these tips for quick and easy meal planning.
- Make two. If you are making one casserole, why not make two? One can be eaten now, and the other can be frozen and saved for dinner another night.
- Stock the freezer. Fill your freezer with both premade and homemade items to have on hand for a busy week.
- Use the slow cooker. Toss some things together in the morning and come home to a hot meal after a long day.
- Buy premade ingredients. Precut vegetables, cooked rotisserie chicken and ready-to-grill marinated meat are perfect for the busy family.
- Institute leftover night. Designate one night a week to eat whatever is in the fridge and save time and money in the process.
- Stock the pantry. Have meals on hand you can turn to in a bind, such as spaghetti, bean burritos or quesadillas.
- Do double duty. Use extra ingredients to make two meals. For example, leftover taco meat can become enchiladas, nachos or chili. Grilled chicken breast can be used for a salad, soup or a casserole.
- Celebrate theme nights. Monday have pasta, Tuesday is for tacos, and Wednesday mix up some stir fry … and to make things even easier, repeat every week to streamline your grocery list, steady your grocery budget and simplify meal planning.
- Love eating out? Add a night out to your meal plan once in a while to treat yourself and your family.
- Make it fun. Get the kids involved in meal planning and food prep and, most importantly, enjoy mealtime together.
Source: “How Much to Budget Each Month for Eating Out” by Ramsey, RamseySolutions.com
Sarah Lyons is a freelance writer and stay-at-home mom to six children, including 9-year-old triplets. Her family makes an effort to sit down for family dinner almost every night.