Eating as a family can be difficult when we all lead busy lives and have different work hours. It can really help you to lose weight though in my opinion.
So by doing this not only will you have quality family time but you will also be more likely to lose weight at the same time! Here is why I believe that.
7 ways eating as a family helps you lose weight
By eating at the same time as the children you are less likely to pick at their leftovers as you have just eaten and are already full so it’s easy to scrape them straight into the bin.
If you all eat together it makes it easier to all eat the same meal and as such all eat healthily and without high-calorie foods for the kids to tempt you.
I find it so easy to snack while you are preparing a meal. If you are preparing an evening meal on two or more occasions every evening then that could be at least double the amount of unnecessary snacking!
Eating at the table instead of in front of the TV reduces the amount you eat. This is because you are not mindlessly eating while your mind is elsewhere.
When you are all eating together you are more conscious of what you are putting on your plate and sneaking that extra bread roll is less likely.
By only having one meal to prepare you have more time to do so and can pay more attention to the details making it healthier.
You can’t skip meals. This is something I tend to slip into and then make myself so hungry I snack on things I shouldn’t. If you have a family mealtime you just can’t skip it can you?
Why eating as a family is important
Not only will eating as a family help you to be healthy and lose weight but think of all those good habits it is teaching your children too.
They will see that everyone eats vegetables, and that eating with no distractions is good. As Ben is getting older too and becoming more like a teenager I think it is a great time to chat about the day too and get a bit of conversation that doesn’t revolve around the Xbox!
Can you make sure you have a family meal at least once this week? Maybe pop onto Amazon and order some table mats and make the table exactly as you like it with fun mats for the kids.
More you may find helpful
To read all my posts with tips and experiences of various diets, exercises and lots more check out my comprehensive Weight Loss and Exercise section.
Great post. I never really considered that eating as a family would help lose weight, but now I can see how that would work. I think eating a meal as a family is also a great way to spend time together and bond. Having a dinnertime conversation is one of my favorite things in our home. It gives us a chance to all talk about our day and just be together while enjoying good food.