Family That Eats Together Stays Connected

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This is a conscious family practice that I've been trying to inculcate in the home for some time now. While we do try and have meals together, to be honest, most of the time it doesn't really happen. Well, there are many reasons behind that:

• Clashing  work timing
• Early school timing, so daughter has to be given dinner really early and tucked to bed
• Guests coming over
• Mid-week/school week evening sudden trips to the market for supplies (so one of us sits and helps the kid with the food while the other one picks up the things) 

But each of those meal-times that we do get to sit together and have food, it's quite a lot of fun:

• We talk about our day
• Our daughter tells us about all the new things she learnt
• All her kiddie queries come out tumbling and we know what she's been thinking
• We talk about food
• Even if there's something our daughter doesn't want to eat, we talk her through it and yes, she does end up eating it, even if a bit of it, due to 'table' pressure

So while I'm not really an example on this one, here are a few reasons why it's considered healthy and good for a family to eat together, especially where kids are concerned:

• Eating style influences the physical and emotional health of each family member
• Kids are less likely to get depressed
• Growing-up kids and especially teenagers find it easier to stay away from abuse substances (alcohol, drugs, tobacco abuse)
• Lesser junk food and more of healthy nutritious food
• A great time to learn more about family traditions, cultures, eating habits and culinary history of the family
• Good conversation time - instead of watching television, texting, playing on a screen or any other distraction, this provides a good conversation time within the family
• Increase your kids' vocabulary and make them more comfortable to speak in public
• Your interest in your child's daily activity will want them to come and discuss more things with you as they are growing up
• Give your kids the chance to participate in different discussions - this will boost their confidence
• A time of sharing and caring where kids can help out by serving food, helping out with servings and help set the table and clean up afterwards together with the parents

So while you may be wondering what the big fuss is all about, the fact is, eating together as a family is definitely a great way to keep up those family values and provide a strong, emotional and healthy home environment to your little one....

- Debolina Raja Gupta

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And like I always believe in and say:
'Heal the world we live in
Save it for our children' - MJ
Happy Parenting!!!!

Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones.... Debolina Raja Gupta