A recent study found that over 75% of parents reported using media during their last family meal, with smartphone use being the most common type. This trend is concerning, as experts say that consistent family meals can provide numerous benefits, including improved emotional satisfaction and healthier diets.

The Importance of Family Meals

Researchers have established that when families consistently sit down together to eat, they reap various benefits, including healthier eating, lower risk of substance use among teenagers, and greater emotional satisfaction. However, the mealtime itself is not the magic ingredient to these benefits. Instead, it’s the consistent family connection and the opportunity for parents to prioritize their children that matters.

Dr. Margie Skeer, a public health and community medicine professor, notes that family meals can provide a built-in space for checking in, sharing feelings, and emotions. Even just standing at the kitchen counter together, sharing a snack, and asking your child how they’re doing can be a chance to connect.

Rethinking Family Dinner

With the constant presence of distracting devices like smartphones, it’s essential to remember that family dinners don’t have to be an all-or-nothing affair. Finding the time for just one dedicated family meal a week, putting away the phone for 20 to 30 minutes, could be worth it. Dr. Anne Fishel, an associate professor of psychology, suggests that mealtimes are the most reliable opportunity many families have for daily connection.

Experts recommend that families make an effort to prioritize device-free family dinners, even if it’s just one day a week. By doing so, they can foster a sense of belonging, connection, and well-being. As Dr. Fishel notes, the frequency of shared mealtime seems to confer nutritional benefits, but the quality of the time around the table is what fosters emotional and psychological benefits.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.