Benefits of Eating Together as A Family for Dinner & 20 Instant Pot Dinner Ideas
Eating together as a family is very important for so many reasons! I want to share the benefits of eating together as a family for dinner each night, or as often as you can. It is reported that only 59% of families sit down and have dinner, and that number keeps declining. Eating together as a family is so valuable.
Let me take a minute and walk you through why you need to take time out of your day to cook up a meal, sit down and everyone eat together. We eat together as a family every single night. Even though my kids are grown my husband and I still make sure to connect at the end of the day, and you should too!
Eating Together As A Family for Dinner Is So Important
Stronger Relationship
When you eat together as a family, it helps to connect and build stronger relationships between your kids and yourself. You can sit down and talk about what you did that day, what is coming up, share fun stories, or even play a game. You can use my printable for questions to ask while you’re at dinner to get the kids engaged, no matter how old or young they are!
Better School Grades
Call it crazy, but sitting down and eating together has a positive outlook on grades in school. Kids who sat down and ate as a family received more A’s and B’s on their report cards in school! Having that solid foundation of family time is highly beneficial to kids of all ages.
Happier
Happier and less stressed is what studies show when you take the time to have dinner as a family. It helps children and teens feel more connected, have time to de-stress with family time and just feel like they fit in, in this world.
Healthy Kids
By making wholesome homecooked meals you are more in control of what your child eats. Skip the fast food (or make it for special occasions only) and find meals to make for your family. Cooking doesn’t have to be hard. There are tons of recipes all over the internet to try for all speeds of cooks.
Explore New Foods
Take the time and find new recipes to try, and let your kids or teens help in the kitchen. While eating together helps bond you all, you can also teach an important life skill. Make dinner fun and work on exploring new foods, and expand your families tastebuds.
At the end of the day, sitting down and eating together as a family is vital. The relationship, connection, and just having that time to check in each night is highly important to your growing children. If your schedules are so busy, try to do it a handful of times a week, and then slowly work toward eating together as a family each night if you can. Just don’t lose that connection!
20 Instant Pot Dinners For The Whole Family
Need help finding what to make for dinner? Check out my Free Meal Planner to help you stay on track for what is for dinner. Below is a nice list of 20 Instant Pot Dinner you can easily whip up, plus check out all the other recipes on my site. From cast iron to Ninja Foodi recipes, and even skillet and oven dinners, I got you covered.
These Steak rolls are savory, and low carb for anyone following the keto diet! Give this recipe a try, for a light and tasty weeknight dinner. Beef Stroganoff is such a comfort food. Serve over a bed of rice or mashed potatoes and you have a full dinner. Serve up a whole rotisserie chicken at home with your favorite side dishes. Easy to make and great for having leftovers for meals in the future. Cornbread taco pie is a dish kids and adults will enjoy. A cornbread bottom that is loaded with seasoned beef, and all your favorite taco toppings. Love pasta? Give this recipe a try. Tender chicken, pasta, in a creamy sauce! Swiss steak and potatoes is a one pot dinner to save the day. Get all your dinner cooked in one pot, fast! Another meat and potato style dinner that will win over kids and adults. Don't forget the cheese on top for added flavor. If you don't want to eat meat, here is a meatless option that is perfect to pair with a crisp green salad or even breadsticks or garlic bread. This is my most popular recipe to date. Creamy ranch based chicken that is piled with cheese, bacon and more. If you love shrimp you will swoon over this pasta and shrimp dish. It does pack a little spice, so if you enjoy heat, give it a try! Pulled pork dips are one juicy, flavorful dip sandwiches that will win over your whole family. These chicken sliders are a great dinner dish to serve up for something fun. Small sandwiches that are packed with tons of flavor, creamy sauce, and a little heat. Shrimp and pasta is at it again in this tangy, savory pasta dish. Quick to prepare and great to serve family. These pork chops are tender, juicy and jam-packed with flavor. The creamy ranch sauce wins over kids instantly! Honey garlic chicken is sweet and savory, two of my favorite things. Pair with rice, quinoa, or even mashed potatoes and your favorite veggie sides. Chicken Tortilla Soup is savory, zesty, and perfect to warm you up on a chilly day. Great for meal prepping for later in the week as well. Burrito bowls are good because each person can assemble with their favorite toppings to customize their own bowls! Hearty, protein packed dinner! This is one tasty dish right here, that is great for anyone who enjoys Italian flavors. If you want a quick and easy dish, try these cilantro lime drumsticks. They are quick to make and really outstanding in flavor. Jambayala is something fun to break up the week or even weekend. Tons of flavor that will please your taste buds. Instant Pot Dinners
