To the editor:
A Healthy Lynnfield, an active community partnership working to keep youth and families in Lynnfield healthy, would like to publicly thank Wellpoint for partnering with us on our Make Mealtime Matter campaign. A Healthy Lynnfield saw the research done by the Family Dinner Project, headquartered at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, which clearly shows that sharing a family meal is good for the spirit, the brain, and the overall health of all family members. With the support of Wellpoint, we set a goal to increase the number of youth that report they sit down to a meal with their family three or more times a week. The Family Dinner Project’s research shows:
- Teens who eat regular family dinners are less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as drug and alcohol use.
- Regular family meals are linked with lower rates of depression and anxiety.
- Family dinner conversations boost young kids’ vocabulary even more than reading aloud.
- Kids whose families eat together tend to have higher self-esteem than their peers.
- Family dinners are linked to a reduced risk of childhood obesity.
- Teens report that family dinners are one of their favorite activities (yes, really)!
Dinner is a time to relax, recharge, laugh, tell stories, and catch up on the day’s ups and downs, while developing a sense of who you are as a family. Meal time helps kids feel connected. Choosing recipes, contributing to making the meal, and family conversation helps foster self-esteem and instill family values. Family connectedness is the key ingredient for reducing high-risk behaviors!
Diana DeLeo
Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator
A Healthy Lynnfield
