I found this add in my wife’s, ‘ahemmm’, magazine Southern Living.  What you can’t see in the small print is that teen age girls that eat at the table with their families 5 nights a week are 33% less likely to develop an eating disorder.  Now I am not sure the source of this statistic but to publish something boldly like that it probably is not far off.  So moms and dads, what type of focus do you put on dinner time?

There are several reasons that come to mind why this might have an affect.

  • You are showing your children that dinner is the time to enjoy your food and not worry about how many calories you’re eating.  It is the reward yourself time at the end of the day.
  • When combining food with family relationships (when they aren’t strained) they both help build on the other.  That is to say if you are eating when you are feeling content from being around family you will have a better view of your food.  And eating food that taste good helps you stomach your family a little better.                                                                                                                                                                                              :)
  • Evening meal time is traditionally the place where the family shares how their day was.  Dad gets to practice leading his family in conversations that help them cope with the world.  Dads you are the protectors of your family, you need to put them at ease and empower them for the next day.  It’s also a great place to celebrate the accomplishments of everyone.
  • As far as practicality you can make good healthy meals which add to good food choices in the future.  This starts with your planning the week’s menu out ahead of time.  Show your kids how to eat right.

All in all, good eating habits take work and so does raising kids in a God fearing home.  I think that statistic is a little scary.  It is well worth our effort to make the evening meal the best it can be for ourselves and our kids.

Anyone have any good dinner ideas?