It has been known for a while: the family meal provides numerous benefits to the children. Several studies over the years have been done on this.

Children who eat one meal a day with their family as a whole:

• eat more fruits and veggies
• are less likely to do drugs
• are less likely to bully and be bullied
• are less likely to be overweight and obese

A study came out recently on the last bullet. Here is a quote from the abstract:

“Family meals may be protective against obesity or overweight because coming together for meals may provide opportunities for emotional connections among family members, the food is more likely to be healthful, and adolescents may be exposed to parental modeling of healthful eating behaviors”

In our busy lives, it is easy to forgo a sit down meal with the whole family. Since family meals have so many significant benefits, it is important to make the effort and build your day around one family meal.