Why Family Dinners Matter

One might think that tradition and culture are the only reasons why family dinners matter. But the truth is, there are physical, mental, and emotional benefits to sharing a nice meal with your loved ones. 

If you need more reasons to keep having your regular family dinners aside from enjoying the food prepared by your favorite private chef in Asheville, here are some of the benefits of sharing dinners:

It Helps Promote Language Skills

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) reminds us that eating meals at the dinner table with family and friends is a great way to practice conversation and language skills. This is especially helpful for little kids who are still developing their speaking skills.

It Can Help Improve Mental Health

When you eat with your family, it helps you feel more connected to your family and loved ones. This can improve your mental health, and because you feel more connected, you feel more confident and less stressed. 

The conversations you have over dinner can also help members of the family open up about their day or their week, and the encouragement they get from their loved ones can help with their confidence and overall positivity.

It Can Help Kids Stick to a Healthy Diet

Many experts say that eating family meals can help kids stick to a healthy diet. The New York Times even shares that a study found that young people who had dinners three times a week were less likely to drink alcohol, smoke, and use drugs compared to those who had family dinners just once a week.

Additionally, a study from the American Dietetic Association found that students who ate family dinners at least twice a week were less likely to be overweight compared to students who ate family meals just once a week.

It Strengthens Family Ties

A study found that family dinners are linked to stronger family ties and friendships. So when you share fun experiences or inspiring stories, you are more likely to strengthen your relationships with your family and friends.

It Can Help Kids Academically

A 2014 study found that students who ate family meals were more likely to do well in school. This is because when the whole family eats together, it helps students appreciate the importance of school, which in turn helps them strive to do well in school.

It Can Help Build Confidence

According to experts, eating family dinners can help improve your self-esteem and self-confidence. This is because when you sit down to a family dinner, you get to spend time with those who you care about. This can help boost your self-confidence.

It Can Help You Sleep Better

If you eat family dinners regularly, you are more likely to get a good night’s sleep. This is because eating family dinners can help reduce stress, which can help you sleep better.

Conclusion

These are just some of the benefits of eating family dinners. As you can see, the benefits are too significant to be ignored. So if you can, have family dinners every night of the week, but if that’s not possible, you can hold special weekly dinners with your family. You can make it even more special by hiring a private chef.

If you are looking for a private chef to prepare your special family dinners, you can find the best ones on Food Fire + Knives. Find your next favorite chef today!

Published By Kim Gandhi Kim Gandhi began cooking at 8 years old with a love of food driving her to experiment with her Hispanic and German heritage. She gained a BBA in Marketing and turned to the business world for much of her career. Her strong customer service background and her passion for great events that involve chefs, customers, and amazing food allows her to indulge in her love of cooking and enjoying what FFK chefs bring to the table.