most parents say sharing a meal reduces family stress

eating together as a family could be a significant way to lower anxiety levels.

by dave yasvinski

published oct 11, 2022

2 minute read

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2 minute read

join the conversation

parents say their stress levels go down after family meals

according to a survey, family dinners are a vital venue for connecting with other people. getty

breaking out of a rut can be as easy as breaking bread with the ones you love, according to a new survey that serves up the savoury benefits of a shared meal. the research, conducted on behalf of the american heart association, found that 91 per cent of parents felt their family was less stressed after dining together. although 84 per cent of respondents to the survey expressed an appetite for eating more meals with their families, the majority said dinner for one was on the menu about 50 per cent of the time.

“sharing meals with others is a great way to reduce stress, boost self-esteem and improve social connection, particularly for kids,” said erin michos, an american heart association volunteer and associate director of preventive cardiology at johns hopkins university in baltimore. “chronic, constant stress can also increase your lifetime risk of heart disease and stroke, so it is important for people to find ways to reduce and manage stress as much as possible, as soon as possible.”

the survey of 1,000 people, which was conducted last month, discovered that stress relief was just one of the ingredients that make family meals a tasty proposition. according to respondents, they are also a vital venue for connecting with other people (67 per cent) and a good reminder of the importance of slowing down and taking a break from the rigours of life (54 per cent). although almost 60 per cent of people said they were more likely to make healthier food choices when eating with others, they said it was difficult to align schedules with those who matter most to them.

the survey also found that the majority of respondents (65 per cent) would describe themselves as at least somewhat stressed, while just over one in four (27 per cent) considered themselves to be very or extremely stressed. seven out of 10 respondents who were currently employed said they believed they would feel less stressed at work if they were given more time to take breaks and share meals with coworkers.

“we know it’s not always as easy as it sounds to get people together at mealtime,” michos said. “like other healthy habits, give yourself permission to start small and build from there. set a goal to gather friends, family or coworkers for one more meal together each week. if you can’t get together in person, think about how you can share a meal together over the phone or a computer.”

dave yasvinski is a writer with healthing.ca

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