Why Should Families Eat Together?

Sharing meals is seen as an excellent way of keeping families connected with one another. More importantly, if you sit at a table together without the TV on you will naturally start talking to each other. It is amazing what you find out, particularly about the lives of teenagers, if you make time to listen and to talk. Staying connected sounds like a small thing but it is the basis of all positive family relationships. In turn, a positive relationship between parents and children helps parents maintain good standards of discipline. Children start off looking up to their parents and despite naughty moments most parents remember a time when it was obvious that their smaller child felt bad about misbehaving. Older children often seem to lose this feeling that they should behave as other want them to. Although it is normal for teenager to challenge authority – through their parents, at school or by campaigning on wider issues – you don't want them to lose any sense that others have a rights and beliefs too. Experts believe increasingly that teenagers and their parents need to spend time together to maintain a feeling of mutual respect and trust. It is thought that this helps both maintain firm boundaries on teen behaviour at home and reduces anti-social behaviour outside the home. And of course, shared meals mean that you can ensure your children eat as healthily as possible and perhaps even learn to cook.

Families eating together makes them feel that they are united. In Indian Tradition, when there is any function / festival going on in the house all the family members sit together & eat.