Our busy schedules make it challenging to come together for family dinners.

Yet we know family meal time is one of the few avenues to spend quality time with the family every week.

We believe prioritising this will have significant benefits in years to come.

So, as part of our #BigReset series, we're committing to eating together as a family more frequently.

Benefits of Family Members Eating Meals Together

Strengthen Family Ties and Stability

Each family meal we share is an invaluable opportunity to strengthen our family bond.

Gathered around the dinner table, we create a perfect space for sharing stories and connecting, especially after a long day or week.

According to a 2014 study published in JAMA Pediatrics, frequent family meals allow more open communication between parents and kids. So, parents can offer more guidance to their children as they grow up.

We believe establishing regular family meals is crucial to solidifying our family routine despite the busyness of our lives.

Serving as anchors for one another, we hope to find solace and connection in these shared moments.

Informs Our Identity as the Dekus 

Although unspoken, a key question our son Jere is asking  is, "What does it mean to be a Deku?"

We want to prioritise creating an environment where Jere and our future children can absorb our family culture and norms organically, rather than solely through commands.

Central to this is the significance we want to place on the dinner table, a vital arena for children's socialisation and learning.

We hope our family dinners can serve as a platform for introducing Jere and our future kids to our family culture, rules, norms, and values.

These things are important because they shape behaviour and our kids' expectations of being a Deku. 

While discipline remains essential, we emphasise a proactive and preventive approach.

We hope that through meaningful exchanges and mutual respect during family meals, we actively cultivate a supportive atmosphere where discipline is guided by understanding rather than mere reprimand.

We believe this approach can strengthen our familial bonds. It can also empower children to embody values and make informed choices autonomously.

Further, frequent family meals can help us create and uphold traditions as a family.

It’s easier to develop and pass down family traditions when we eat family meals together.

The more we eat together as a family, the stronger the bond of family members becomes. The stronger that familial bond is, the easier it is for us to find time for family meals.

Promote Overall Well-Being

Social Benefits

In today's digital age, there's a common belief that technological advancements have made us more connected than ever before.

Yet paradoxically, many argue this constant connectivity online has made us socially disconnected.

“Despite these technological advancements, many people feel more disconnected and isolated than ever before,” explained Cassandra Shuck, Ph.D., a tech founder.

We want our family meal times to be a technology-free zone!

The hustle and bustle of daily life can weigh heavily on our mental well-being.

So, frequent family meals have become more important than ever because they serve as a respite from our hectic schedules.

With this in mind, we aim to create genuine face-to-face interactions where we can engage in meaningful conversation.

During our family meals, we want all family members to be fully present and attentive. And the best way to do that is to free ourselves from the distractions of our devices.

At the moment, we're witnessing Jere's blossoming ability to string together sentences.

It's heartwarming to hear him chatter about his experiences at nursery, excitedly recounting the games he's played, the friends he's made, and even the meals he's enjoyed.

We cherish these conversations and hope they persist because having a haven where one can freely express oneself is invaluable.

When raising kids as young as Jere, cultivating an environment that helps them develop their social skills is vital.

Our son can adopt good table manners and practice active listening when we set the right example at the dining table. 

During family meals, he can acquire practical skills like utensil use, and develop language and literacy as he engages in conversation.

Emotional Benefits

For young minds, family meal discussions offer an ideal avenue for experiencing family dynamics, and expressing thoughts and emotions.

This nurturing ambience fosters comprehensive growth and learning.

Overall, research indicates eating together as a family at least four times a week can positively affect child development.

Imagine our son telling us about his day, encounters, learnings, little accomplishments, and more. When we think about it, it’s pretty exciting.

We want him to grow up knowing that our family is the safest space for him to communicate and be himself, and all that begins at the dinner table.

Mental Health Benefits

Eating together is good for our mental health and collective well-being as a family.

A group of Canadian researchers discovered in 2015 that frequent family meals help prevent severe physical and mental health issues, such as depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts among adolescents.

Meanwhile, a 2022 American Health Association survey revealed that 91% of parents believe that "their families were significantly less stressed" when their family members eat dinner or meals together.

Physical Health Benefits

Eating together as a family also comes with tons of physical health benefits.

A JAMA Network Open 2018 study has shown that frequent family meals are generally linked with better nutrition and diet.

According to a Journal of Pediatrics publication in 2015, eating meals with the family in adolescence is directly associated with reduced chances of weight issues 10 years later.

We can enjoy mealtime conversations over home-cooked meals, which are much healthier than fast food or takeout.

Pray Together: Time for Reflection & Gratitude

Prayer is an integral part of our family's beliefs and practices.

While we often pray independently or in smaller groups, such as before bedtime where we take turns tucking Jere in and saying prayers, family meals offer a unique opportunity to unite as a family in collective prayer.

This shared ritual strengthens our familial bond in Christ.

It also reinforces our unity and connection as we express our gratitude and hopes over family meals.

Simultaneously, as we gather for a family meal, we nurture an appreciation for the blessings in our lives–– from the nourishment we receive at the dinner table to the roof over our heads.

Our moments eating together as a family serve as a foundation for instilling in our son the importance of maintaining a grateful heart.

A Place of Refuge for Our Community

We thoroughly enjoy hosting guests in our home, although it presents some challenges with a little one.

However, as we establish a consistent rhythm, we want our dinner table to serve more than just a place to eat meals with our immediate family.

It's an opportunity for us to extend invitations to other family members and friends, welcoming them into our home with open arms.

Through these gatherings, we aim to disciple, encourage, and equip those who enter our space.

We believe in the transformative power of hospitality. We value providing a refuge where people feel safe, supported, and uplifted.

Whether through shared conversations, laughter, or moments of connection, we strive to create meaningful experiences that leave a lasting impact on those who visit our home.

The Bottomline

Those are only a few benefits of eating together as a family.

We know that by reiterating the significance of eating meals together as a family, we'll be able to reap the benefits.

In the process, we can become more encouraged to prioritise family mealtimes.

We hope that through this blog, we've helped you rediscover what it truly means to have frequent family meals.

When did you last gather with your family members for a family dinner? How does family meal time help strengthen your familial ties, and benefit your physical and mental health?

Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comment section below! We can’t wait to hear from you!

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