Family Strong: Eating dinner as a family

SOMETHING MAGICAL HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT A TABLECLOTH ON your TABLE

1. You want to set out plates, glasses and silverware - not necessarily silver.

2. The family sits down all together.

3. They want to give a heartfelt prayer.

4. Parents use good table manners.

5. Children learn good table manners.

6. They talk about their day. Everyone laughs. Digestion improves.

7. Even plain, ordinary food tastes better.

8. Each member of the family tries to make it home for dinner.

9. A family is connected.

10. Don’t wait for Sunday. Set your table every day possible.

USA Today: One factor to high achieving and well adjusted adolescents was eating dinner with their

parents on a regular basis. Kids appreciate their parents more when sharing a meal together.

· Experts say that kids who eat dinner with their families three or more times a week are more likely to have better language and literacy, a higher grade point average, higher self-esteem, fewer eating disorders, and fewer risky behaviors like thoughts of suicide or hanging out with the wrong crowd.

• Research shows children who eat meals with their families are less likely to use cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs. They also do better in school. Family meals also help kids eat nutritious foods, keep the lines of communication open and create a feel-good connectedness.