DID YOU KNOW EATING TOGETHER IS GOOD FOR YOU

Eating together as a family is more important today than in the past because there is so many more distractions, more choices of activities outside the home, and a constant bombardment of information from modern technology.

The surprising benefits of eating together even if it's just occasionally could improve your emotional wellbeing, diet and could also help develop even the fussiest of taste buds.

Here’s how to get the benefits of eating together, even if you don’t have the time to do so every evening.

Studies suggest that shared mealtimes are a recipe for happiness, as gathering around the dinner table connects us and promotes bonding. Other research shows links between children and teenagers who regularly sit down for meals with others, and a healthier diet, including more fruits,vegetables and nutrients. There’s even evidence that ‘family meals’ reduce the likelihood of young people becoming overweight or obese.

It’s a highly complex area and some experts argue it’s impossible to isolate the effects of eating together from other potential contributing factors. For example, households that share meals most frequently might have more financial resources to buy fresh food and/or the time, energy, and physical ability to cook, than those that don’t. In addition, some doctors say the idealised ritual of the family meal is impossible for many households to achieve and involves significant stresses.

But psychologists and nutritionists broadly agree that sitting down to eat with others is good for everyone’s physical and emotional wellbeing, especially children and teenagers.

FOOD TASTES BETTER WHEN YOU EAT IT WITH FAMILY