We Are Family

Ever heard the phrase, “It’s not what is said, but how it’s said that is important”? Well I’ve got a twist on that phrase: “It’s not ‘what’s for dinner?’ but with whom is dinner being eaten that’s important.”

Now, my little twist on the original shouldn’t be taken as gospel truth. Clearly, the kinds of foods eaten at dinner – or any meal, for that matter – are extremely important to long term health. But research tells us that one begets the other; in other words, those who eat with their families throughout their young life and into their teen years tend to have healthier diets as they grow older and have families of their own.  
Researchers discovered this after analyzing the diet habits of approximately 1,600 males and females who’d recently turned 20. The research began five years prior to their 20th, as the researchers were following up on how these 1,600 participants diets changed in the intervening years, depending on whether or not they had regular meals with their families or by their lonesome when younger.

What they found was that, indeed, those who ate meals with their families tended to consume foods higher in vitamins and minerals (magnesium, in particular) far more often than those who didn’t have meals with their families when younger. They were also more likely to have meals period – having a set meal time is always the best way to get nutrient-rich foods into your system. Meal replacement bars are no match for real food when it comes to satisfying the body’s nutrient needs.

But eating with one’s family does not only bring about better dietary proclivities, it also encourages a better relationship and attitude toward food itself. Researchers from the University of Minnesota found that adolescent girls were far less likely to suffer from eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia the more frequently they had meals with their families. For instance, those who ate with their families four times a week were at about a third of the risk for developing an eating disorder. If they had meals with their families five times a week, the likelihood was reduced even further (a quarter of the risk).

Now, I know what you’re thinking: You’re thinking that while this study may indicate family eating begets kids who become healthy-eating adults, you know of many families that only eat crap when they’re together. I have no doubt that this happens, but generally speaking, kids who grew up in loving homes like to take with them the happy moments they had and the hard work their moms and dad did day after day to make dinner. That’s why it’s SO important that the parents set the tone for meals, in conversation and ingredients. Family meals need to be had in a warm, welcoming atmosphere, where the food is prepared by mom and dad, not ordered out. Ordering out may be more convenient, but it does not encourage healthy eating, even though it may appear healthy (more often than not, restaurant fare is inordinately large in portions and loaded with excess sodium).

Part of the joy of the Christmas season is the togetherness it fosters. And as the research shows, a healthier family is one that eats together on a regular basis.