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張貼日期：Dec 29, 2016 2:10:12 AM

The meal time with family

   Do you have busy days every day?  Do you enjoy meal times with your family?  For me, the answer is “Yes.”  Nowadays, many parents are busy working for a living, and kids are busy with their learning or other activities, so it’s not easy to put a meal on the table and get the whole family to sit down together to enjoy it.  But regular family mealtimes play a very important role in our lives.  The most important thing isn't necessarily what's on the table, but taking a moment to enjoy the food with family members you care about.  It’s an enjoyable and simple way to improve your family’s nutrition, relationships with one another, and communication skills.

     Some studies have shown that kids who eat with their families frequently are less likely to get depressed, consider suicide, or develop an eating disorders. They are also more likely to report that their parents are proud of them. When a child is feeling down or depressed, family dinner can act as an intervention. If a child eats with his or her parents on a regular basis, problems will be identified earlier.  Besides, eating family dinners at least five times a week may drastically lower a teen’s chance of smoking, drinking, and using drugs.

Another benefit is, better food, better report card. For example, teenagers who eat dinner with their families frequently eat more fruits and vegetables and less fried foods. Their diets may also have higher amounts of many key nutrients, like calcium, iron, fiber, and so on. Furthermore, family meals give children an opportunity to have conversations with adults, and, as a result, pick up on how adults are using words with one other. This may explain why family dinnertime is also thought to build a child’s vocabulary.

     As for me, I have a younger brother, but I am sure that I am happier than him. He lives in the dormitory, but I don’t.  Hence, I can go home every day and enjoy my mother’s dishes. During our mealtimes, I like to tell my parents what has happened each day. Whenever I encounter problems, they always give me comfort and valuable advice. I really appreciate them for providing me such cherished moments in my life, which is why you see, standing before you, a healthy and happy child. 

     Although family life often comes with a hectic schedule in our busy society, the meal time with family is always worth the effort.  It is the perfect opportunity for parents to expose children to different foods and expand their tastes.  After all, healthy meals mean healthy kids. So, let’s all make a concerted effortto enjoy our  dinnertimes each and every night!