Improving Health and Well-Being Through Shared Family Meals Halle Larson, dietetics student, Savannah Daines, M.P.H., Stacy Bevan, M.S., R.D., Palak Gupta. Ph.D., and Mateja R. Savoie Roskos, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D.
Shared family meals offer far more than just a chance to eat together; they provide numerous health, social, and developmental benefits for children and adolescents (Verhage et al., 2018). Research has shown that regularly sharing meals with at least one family member is associated with increased fruit and vegetable consumption, stronger family bonds, and better performance in school (Snuggs & Harvey, 2023). Despite these benefits, many parents experience stress or feel overwhelmed by the demands of providing regular family meals. This fact sheet delves into the numerous advantages of shared family meals and provides practical tips to overcome common obstacles to shared family meals, making it easier to incorporate these valuable moments into your family’s routine.
Benefits of Shared Family Meals
While the term “shared family meals” is used, it is important to recognize that family structures come in many forms. The specifics of who participates in a shared meal—whether it is two parents, a single parent, or another caregiver in the home—can vary greatly from one family to another. Regardless of the family makeup, the benefits of shared family meals are consistent across different family configurations (Daragan et al., 2023; Fiese & Jones, 2012). These benefits follow.