Screen Shot 2016-02-26 at 2.51.17 PMWhen was the last time your family sat together to eat (and I don’t mean in front of the TV!). Eating together at the table at least 3-4 times a week with good conversation flowing can mean significant benefits to a family’s health, well-being and relationships. Whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner, meals together matter! According to the Family Dinner Project some specific benefits for children and adults include: ●Better academic performance

●Higher self-esteemScreen Shot 2016-02-26 at 3.01.14 PM

●Greater sense of resilience

●Lower risk of substance abuse

●Lower risk of teen pregnancy

●Lower risk of depression

●Lower likelihood of developing eating disorders

Screen Shot 2016-02-26 at 2.48.54 PM●Lower rates of obesity

School, work and extracurricular schedules make it difficult for many families to find the time to sit together for a meal - society has become prone to multi-task, so eating on the go has become commonplace. However, with these tips from EDIS, family dinner time can become a part of the daily schedule!
  • Put family meal time higher on the list of priorities. Being together is more important than the meal - dinner doesn't have to be extravagant to be good!Screen Shot 2016-02-26 at 3.01.26 PM
  • Don't jump in - take it slow. Increase the number of family meals by one extra meal a week. Smaller steps will make it easier to implement and keep as part of the schedule.
  • Get the whole family involved in the planning of meals. Getting the kids involved in the grocery lists and weekly menu gives them the chance to choose meals they enjoy, and gives them something to look forward to! Using weekly grocery store ads to design meals for the week and clipping coupons are also great ways to work together to keep costs down.Screen Shot 2016-02-26 at 2.48.08 PM
  • Let children gather food needed for making the meal from the cabinets, pantry, or the refrigerator.
  • Let children mix foods together or stir food in a pot with appropriate supervision. If the oven is needed, kids can set the temperature or prepare a salad.
  • Ask your child to help set the table.
  • Work as a family to clean up after dinner, making it fun!
  • Select family-friendly recipes that give everyone Screen Shot 2016-02-26 at 2.48.28 PMan important task to do. This will teach children about the importance of family togetherness and team work, which helps the job get done faster.
  • Design conversation cards. These cards can be used to start conversations at the dinner table just in case there is quiet time.
  • Turn off the TV! Instead, use the time to talk about each other’s day.
If you need some more help getting started, there are some great tips and resources at thefamilydinnerproject.org that will get you and your family connecting one meal at a time! At Surplus Furniture & Mattress, we carry a variety of styled dining sets for you to choose from. 3, 5 and 7 piece sets from brand names such as Signature Design by Ashley, United Furniture, Crown Mark and so much more! Brand name, brand new and quality you can trust! Make sure you come into our furniture warehouse and check out our entire dining line up.. you won't be disappointed!