Don't forget to complete this week's challenge at Utah Family Meals and win!
Why Family Meals?
Research shows there are health and social
benefits for the entire family! A Harvard University Study
published in the Archives of Family Medicine found that when families eat three
or more meals together a week, they consume:
- More fruits and vegetables
- Less fried food and soda
- Less saturated fat and trans fat
- More fiber, calcium, iron, vitamins B6, B12, C and E
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University's 2011 Report, "The Importance of Family Dinners, VII" compared teens who have family dinners 5-7 times a week to those who have less than 3 family dinners a week. The report found that those who have family dinners 5-7 times a weeks are:
- Four times less likely to use tobacco
- two times less likely to use alcohol
- two and a half times less likely to use marijuana
And that's not all! Studies also show that there are academic and social benefits for families who regularly eat together, including:
- better academic performance at school for children
- better connectedness and communication at home
- better language and communication skills for children
Family mealtimes are also an opportunity to
- teach good nutrition and model healthy eating
- spend more time together as a family
What are your reasons for eating family meals?
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