Its well documented that children who eat dinner consistently with their families feel more attached, perform better in school and are less likely to be involved in drugs, alcohol, and other risky behaviors. But in todays fast-paced, taxing, busy world, there seems to be little time for gathering and connecting with family, and in blended families with transitioning children and jam-packed schedules, its even more difficult. We have the illusion of connectedness with our pervasive cell phones, text messaging and email, but theres no replacement for face to face, electronic-free interaction with family members all together.

One simple solution is to plan regular family dinners. There are many excellent reasons to make the family dinner part of your routine as often as you can.

1. A study among 1010 young couples by the University of Missouri showed that mealtimes, including preparation, eating the meal, and washing up, provided quality time for couples to bond as they performed this activity together. The frustrating issue of balancing work and time together was significantly alleviated and their bond made stronger by spending time together in the kitchen. An added benefit was that couples who began their marriage with a shared mealtime practice were more likely to continue once they had children.

2. Many parents struggle with the challenge of providing a healthy diet that their children will eat. Were all aware of the increasing number of children with obesity and Type II diabetes caused by consuming unhealthy pre-prepared foods and by unstructured inactivity. Were also aware that children, even teenagers, can be fussy eaters, unwilling to move beyond their favorites of chicken nuggets, pizza and fries. Heres some encouraging news:

Researchers at Teachers College at Columbia University discovered that kids in grades K- 6, who not only had instruction in healthy nutrition but also were involved in cooking vegetables and whole grains, were more likely to eat those foods than kids who did not do the cooking. The conclusion is parents should provide healthy food choices and involve children in meal preparation, despite the mess and reluctance to have young children in the kitchen. If parents are worried about sharp knives and hot water around little children, be sure the kitchen is safe for the particular age group. Not only will the children learn cooking skills, they will be more likely to try the new and healthy foods they helped create.

Action Steps

* Plan to have a family dinner at least once a week where everyone is engaged with each other, face to face and not sidetracked with TV, cell phones, or other electronic devices. Keep it simple with...

The original version of this article and resource links can be found at: www.Blended-Families.com/stephero/family-dinner.php

About the Author

Sheena Berg, a blended family coach, enjoys writing articles for the FREE StepHeroes Newsletter. To subscribe, visit http://www.About-Blended-Families.com. The original version of this article and resource links can be found at: www.Blended-Families.com/stephero/family-dinner-time.php

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