Having at least one meal together with the family is very important for the children as well as the parents and other adult members of the family. Everyone in the family is benefited. Since the work schedule and the school hours seldom match, spending the lunchtime at home is very difficult on the working days. But, the weekend lunches should be spent together.

This helps the family to bond and understand each other better. Children feel more secure and well cared.

Children follow the footsteps of their adults. So, once the parents make dinner time a family rule and stick to it; the children will get into the habit and try to be home for dinner.

In a way, this will make them return home before dark. Young children need to follow a definite pattern and this timing will also help them have their meals at a fixed timing. Children learn table manners, improve their vocabulary and share the day’s happenings with the others.

Teenagers, who have their evening meals at home, tend to feel themselves cared for and feel a sense of belonging. This improves their confidence and increases their trust towards the family. The family grows closer. Children tend to share their feelings with one parent at least, if not both. Earning this trust from the young adolescents today, would be an incredible achievement for the parents.

Having food at home also means having nutritive and health conscious dishes. If for any reason, one parent cannot be present for dinner, it would be important for the other to have dinner with the kids.

Here, the main point to note is the fact of spending time together with the family and how it becomes a priority that helps the youngsters understand the value of home.

The advantages of family dinner:

• Having nourishing food
• Children become healthy and fit
• Children stay away from vices like drugs, drinks and smoking
• They don’t get into bad company
• Parents can observe and rectify if any unwanted behavior in the beginning itself.
• Visible improvements in studies
• Children voice their thoughts
• Children love to stay at home

Most of the problems observed in the teenagers today will reduce or be sorted before they become difficult or worsen without parental guidance.

The ways to spend time together and enjoy a hearty meal should be easy. Here the menu is not very important. As long as there are healthy drinks, fruits and salads fixing a meal would be easy. If one youngster gets his choice of menu, the next meal should be the other kid’s choice. For a change the kids could share the adult’s choice once. During a celebration or to give rest to the home-maker, you can order food from outside. Or, you can simply plan a family dinner outing.