Over the last 20 years there have been numerous studies that show the benefit of families sharing meals at home together.

In a Harvard Podcast, EdCast, family therapist Anne Fishel said “I sort of half joke that I could be out of business if more families had regular family dinners, because so many of the things that I try to do in family therapy actually get accomplished by regular dinners.” Eating together as a family is good for physical, mental, and emotional health. Dinners at home typically are healthier for you — promoting the physical benefits — and studies have shown eating meals together help lower depression and anxiety rates, which raise resilience and self esteem.

One notable nonprofit, The Family Dinner Project, provides families amazing resources like quick and nutritious recipes, family games and conversation starters. They also write advice blogs on how to make dinnertime work for you as a family.

In the podcast, Fishel notes too that it doesn’t have to be dinner. Especially in the fall season with school, sports, and different work schedules, it can feel impossible to sit at the table together. Even if it’s breakfast, weekend lunches, late night snacks, etc. there are great benefits for your family. Some research shows that eating together five times a week is the point where you really start to see benefits, but set a goal that is realistic for your family. Even if that’s once a week, that’s a great starting point. The main idea is to prioritize and be intentional about those meal times because it really pays off.

To read the transcript or listen to the full podcast on family mealtimes, click here.

Growing up, we would talk about the high and low of our day at the dinner table. This gave an easy way for us to share a bit about what went on in our life that day in a way that wasn’t overwhelming. Some families call this sharing their “roses and thorns.” Traditions like this are great for connection.

Does your family share mealtime habits that help you connect? If you have some good ideas, reply to this email and we will share them next week!