Why the Dining Table is Number One
If you don’t place an emphasis on the dining table in your home, then maybe you and your kids are missing out on one of the most important aspects of family life. Without that dining table as the central focus, it becomes very easy for the kids to grab food on the go, or to eat by themselves, with the parents only sitting down to eat later on. This can unfortunately lead to problems, nutritionally and emotionally, especially for your children.
The best way to create a healthier balance is to get the dining table out of storage and start using it. These days everybody’s lives are hectic, and we all rush from one appointment to the next. Since our timetables are all different, it can be hard to find a slot that allows everybody to stop and relax together for lunch or dinner. It is so much better to do this though – write a couple of family times into your schedule, and don’t allow anything “more important” to displace these commitments.
And since you’ve now gone back to having a traditional dining room table for family mealtimes, why not get the kids involved in the food preparation as well. It is well established that youngsters take cues from their parents about which foods to like and dislike. If you don’t involve them in the food preparation, they may be less likely to try new ingredients or develop a wide and healthy, balanced diet. There’s even evidence that suggests children who eat meals with the rest of their family are more likely to eat vegetables than those kids who eat without their parents.
It isn’t just about the food though. Other studies show that youngsters who eat together with parents tend to drink healthier too, often drinking far less sugary soda drinks than other kids, preferring water or milk. And even more compelling, the children who gather round the dining room table as a family unit are less prone to alcohol and drug problems in their teens.
The strong emotional bonds that are built up between family members during mealtimes should not be ignored. There is a saying that “the family that eats together stays together”, and shared meals allow kids to relax with their parents and talk about problems or worries, or simply to chat about their day at school. This is all hugely valuable as it strengthens relationships and instils sociable habits into the young that they can take into adulthood.
So the dining table really is number one! The must-have piece of furniture that benefits the family as a whole and as individuals, by turning out generations of healthy, sociable and emotionally well-balanced people.
About the Author
Art writes about all things concerning the home and home life, from the things that happen there to the fixtures and fittings, everything from the dining table to starting a fledgling business.
