One of the 10 things that happy families do is to eat dinner together.
One
of
the
10
things
that
happy
families
do
is
to
eat
dinner
together
.
As growing up, I thought everyone ate dinner as a family.
As
growing
up
,
I
thought
everyone
ate
dinner
as
a
family
.
However, now I realized that is not the case.
However
,
now
I
realized
that
is
not
the
case
.
In fact, most families eat dinner together only about four times a week and 10% of families only eat together twice a week.
In
fact
,
most
families
eat
dinner
together
only
about
four
times
a
week
and
10
%
of
families
only
eat
together
twice
a
week
.
And as children get older and the number of activities they are involved in increases, the meals eaten as a family decrease.
And
as
children
get
older
and
the
number
of
activities
they
are
involved
in
increases
,
the
meals
eaten
as
a
family
decrease
.
Studies show that families who eat dinner together benefits in a variety of ways.
Studies
show
that
families
who
eat
dinner
together
benefits
in
a
variety
of
ways
.
Eating together helps families achieve better communication, children do better in school and are better adjusted, and the entire family enjoys better nutrition.
Eating
together
helps
families
achieve
better
communication
,
children
do
better
in
school
and
are
better
adjusted
,
and
the
entire
family
enjoys
better
nutrition
.
Increased Communication
Increased
Communication
Eating dinner together as a family provides opportunities for communication.
Eating
dinner
together
as
a
family
provides
opportunities
for
communication
.
A "Family Dinner Experiment" conducted by Oprah Winfrey in 1993 challenged five families to eat dinner together every night for a month for at least half an hour.
A
``
Family
Dinner
Experiment
''
conducted
by
Oprah
Winfrey
in
1993
challenged
five
families
to
eat
dinner
together
every
night
for
a
month
for
at
least
half
an
hour
.
At first the families found it difficult but by the end of the study they wanted to continue eating dinner together.
At
first
the
families
found
it
difficult
but
by
the
end
of
the
study
they
wanted
to
continue
eating
dinner
together
.
The biggest surprise for the parents was "How much their children treasured the dependence time with their parents at the table."
The
biggest
surprise
for
the
parents
was
``
How
much
their
children
treasured
the
dependence
time
with
their
parents
at
the
table
.
''
Superior Academic Performance
Superior
Academic
Performance
Family meals also help improve school performance.
Family
meals
also
help
improve
school
performance
.
A 1994 survey by Louis Harris and Associates had 2000 seniors take an academic test and answer a list of personal questions.
A
1994
survey
by
Louis
Harris
and
Associates
had
2000
seniors
take
an
academic
test
and
answer
a
list
of
personal
questions
.
Researchers found that "Students who regularly ate dinner with their families four or more times a week scored better than those who ate family dinners three or fewer times a week.
Researchers
found
that
``
Students
who
regularly
ate
dinner
with
their
families
four
or
more
times
a
week
scored
better
than
those
who
ate
family
dinners
three
or
fewer
times
a
week
.
These results crossed racial lines and were a greater indicator than whether the child was in a one or two-parent family."
These
results
crossed
racial
lines
and
were
a
greater
indicator
than
whether
the
child
was
in
a
one
or
two-parent
family
.
''
Better Adjusted
Better
Adjusted
A study by Drs.
A
study
by
Drs
.
Bowden and Zeisz found that "the teens who were best adjusted ate a meal with an adult in their family at an average of 5.4 days a week, compared to 3.3 days for teens who didn't show good adjustment."
Bowden
and
Zeisz
found
that
``
the
teens
who
were
best
adjusted
ate
a
meal
with
an
adult
in
their
family
at
an
average
of
5.4
days
a
week
,
compared
to
3.3
days
for
teens
who
did
n't
show
good
adjustment
.
''
The well-adjusted teens were "less likely to do drugs or be depressed and were more motivated at school and had better relationships."
The
well-adjusted
teens
were
``
less
likely
to
do
drugs
or
be
depressed
and
were
more
motivated
at
school
and
had
better
relationships
.
''
Dr. Bowen said, "that mealtimes were a sort of 'marker' for other positive family attributes and seemed to play an important role in helping teens deal well with the stresses of adolescence."
Dr.
Bowen
said
,
``
that
mealtimes
were
a
sort
of
'marker
'
for
other
positive
family
attributes
and
seemed
to
play
an
important
role
in
helping
teens
deal
well
with
the
stresses
of
adolescence
.
''
One of the 10 things that happy families do is to eat dinner together. As growing up, I thought everyone ate dinner as a family. However, now I realized that is not the case. In fact, most families eat dinner together only about four times a week and 10% of families only eat together twice a week. And as children get older and the number of activities they are involved in increases, the meals eaten as a family decrease.  Studies show that families who eat dinner together benefits in a variety of ways. Eating together helps families achieve better communication, children do better in school and are better adjusted, and the entire family enjoys better nutrition.  Increased Communication  Eating dinner together as a family provides opportunities for communication. A "Family Dinner Experiment" conducted by Oprah Winfrey in 1993 challenged five families to eat dinner together every night for a month for at least half an hour. At first the families found it difficult but by the end of the study they wanted to continue eating dinner together. The biggest surprise for the parents was "How much their children treasured the dependence time with their parents at the table."  Superior Academic Performance  Family meals also help improve school performance. A 1994 survey by Louis Harris and Associates had 2000 seniors take an academic test and answer a list of personal questions. Researchers found that "Students who regularly ate dinner with their families four or more times a week scored better than those who ate family dinners three or fewer times a week. These results crossed racial lines and were a greater indicator than whether the child was in a one or two-parent family."  Better Adjusted  A study by Drs. Bowden and Zeisz found that "the teens who were best adjusted ate a meal with an adult in their family at an average of 5.4 days a week, compared to 3.3 days for teens who didn't show good adjustment." The well-adjusted teens were "less likely to do drugs or be depressed and were more motivated at school and had better relationships." Dr. Bowen said, "that mealtimes were a sort of 'marker' for other positive family attributes and seemed to play an important role in helping teens deal well with the stresses of adolescence."