There’s one dinnertime must-have that’s more important than any other: people.
Shared meals are a bite-sized opportunity to spend time together with fewer distractions – the perfect time to reflect, reach out and check in. And with better food and even better company today comes a better world tomorrow.
It might sound too good to be true, but studies show that kids in families who eat their meals together have healthier weight levels, better grades and school attendance, better mental health and even better manners.
And yet an Oxford survey showed 55% of British families eat with the television on, and according to Deloitte, 68% of families are on their cell phones.
The reality of busy households means dinnertime isn’t always peaceful, but this United Nations International Day of Families, Mars Food wants to remind families about the mental health benefits of turning off devices and sitting down to a meal together.
Maybe the plates aren’t garnished, the setting isn’t picture perfect. Whether navigating busy schedules, picky eaters or lack of healthy ingredients in the refrigerator, the most important part is just being together.
Here are a few quick tips to make shared dinnertime easier:
- Invite friends or family you haven’t seen in a while.
- Involve your kids in the dinner prep – and setting the table too!
- Go around the table and ask everyone their best moment of the day.
- Talk about the food. You’ll be surprised by the memories and stories that come up from sensory experiences.
Pledge to be home for dinner. Pick a time and days that work for the whole family and be there.
Join us and Switch Off for Dinner, taking the time to talk with the people who matter most to you – whether it’s your family, friends, partners or pets.
If you’d like to read more about the benefits of dinnertime, check out our Mars Food Dinnertime Matters report.
