Corporately
Growing up, our family eating together at the table was a very special occasion. Mom took out all her nice plates and cutlery and we had a home-cooked three course meal. It was always enjoyable. My only regret was that it rarely occurred. Upon reflecting about it, I would admit we were not a close-knit family. Maybe that is one of the reasons.
Eating home-cooked meals together as a family or what this course terms as eating corporately is a recommended way of eating for many reasons beyond just the meals. The corporate mealtimes are not simply about eating. They are also opportunities to catch up on the occurrences of the day. They are also opportunities for discussion of a wide range of topics. Proper table etiquette, good manners, cooperation, waiting one’s turn, selflessness, sharing and other things can be both taught, modeled and reinforced at family meals. The following is a list of benefits that were inspired by a similar list from a Swedish blogger.
1. Eating together provides an avenue for fellowship and wholesome interactions.
- Positive interactions at meal times help to maintain relationships and a sense of belonging.
- Children can anticipate nurturing meals and nurturing interactions with their parents.
- Meals with “no cell phone” allows for normal, wholesome human interactions.
- Shy or introverted kids can be encouraged to speak up in a supportive environment.
- More talkative or extroverted kids can learn to be disciplined and allow others to speak.
- Great opportunity to model validating different personalities and opinions.
3. Eating together helps kids do better in school.
- Family meals are great places to talk about what is going on in school.
- Family meals are great to have planned or organic discussions about educational topics.
- Encouraging table talk fosters confidence and comfort for kids who may then speak up more in class.
4. Eating together provides better nutrition.
- Meals at home are more likely to be healthy home-cooked meals rather than fast food.
- Home meals provide opportunities to get kids involved in meal prepping, cooking and cleanup.
- Meals at home provide opportunity for parents to model healthy nutrition before their kids.
5. Eating together is a great avenue for teaching etiquette and manners.
- Parents can both teach and model proper table manners or etiquette before their kids.
- Family meals are great for teaching general courtesy and patience.
- Family meals are a great place for kids to practice and perfect table manners and etiquette.
6. Family meals save time and money.
- Regular planned meals requires organized grocery shopping and meal prepping which saves time and money.
- Cooking is always cheaper than eating out at a restaurant or fast-food joint, or ordering in.
- Left-overs from one meal can become “planned-overs” for another.
7. Family meals are enjoyable!
- Most kids including teenagers (who may not admit it) enjoy eating with their families!
- Most parents also relish the opportunity to share this time with their children.
- Laughter at the table puts us in the relaxed, PNS state which favors digestion.
- It is important that eating healthy be associated with pleasant emotions.
