Lessons from the family table: Why sharing meals matters

Lessons from the family table: Why sharing meals matters

By Carolyn Tomlin
Correspondent, The Alabama Baptist

An old French proverb states: “The more things change the more they stay the same.” Although it may not apply to everything in life it’s important when it comes to sharing meals together as a family. 

Recall the Norman Rockwell prints where two, three or more generations gathered around a table filled with healthy food. The artist captured expressions of happiness, respect and joy in simply being together. By the 21st century this setting became the exception rather than the rule. 

Modern families

Instead of gathering around the table for the evening meal modern families often find themselves in drive-thrus, waiting in line at fast food restaurants while connecting with someone by cell phone. 

However, a recent Gallup Poll reports family dining is still a part of everyday life for the majority of U.S. parents. 53% of adults with children younger than 18 say their family shares dinner together at home six or seven nights a week. 

According to a study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, children who eat at least five meals per week with their family are at lower risk of developing poor eating habits, weight problems, or alcohol and substance dependencies and they tend to perform better in school than those who frequently eat alone or away from home.

Family mealtimes help parents become more aware of what is going on in the lives of their children. A healthy relationship of love and respect between parents and children grows and creates a constructive approach to a wholesome lifestyle. Three additional benefits of sharing family meals include:

1. Developing communication skills 

During family meals children and adults exchange ideas. Not only does this time promote family togetherness, but children also learn good communication skills that will continue throughout life.

“We have a practice that everyone has to bring something new they have learned to the table,” said one father, Tom. “This can be about literature, world or local news, historical events … anything they have read or researched recently.” 

2. Nurturing closer sibling relationships

Richard Wakefield, a pastor in Missouri, believes sharing meals together gave his children a sense of closeness as they grew older. 

“Our time together at the table paid off. Now as adults I see this in their love for each other,” said Wakefield. “As they ate they talked.  We encouraged them to take the lead and they knew mom and dad were ready to listen. Of course, as they became older, we had to allow for sports and school activities. But it had to be a very good excuse to miss our evening meal around the table.”

3. Connecting parents and children

Lessons learned around the family table create warmth and security for children and teens. This feeling carries over into adulthood when children have families of their own. 

Sharing time together as a family generates many rewards. Shared family meals can encourage a wholesome lifestyle, help children develop communication skills, bring siblings closer and nurture stronger bonds between parents and children. 

Family mealtime is a tradition worth the effort.