There so many good things about September – cooler weather, fall sports, local festivals in the park, changing of leaves, and apple picking. And now there is another thing to love about September – it has been claimed National Family Meal Month.

The benefits of family meals are countless, so I am just going to reference a few here in this post.

Family meals = better nutrition

As a dietitian, it’s only fair that I start with this benefit. Research shows that when families eat together they consume more nutrient dense foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Inversely they eat less fast food options that are higher in sodium, saturated and trans fat. Families are more likely to purchase whole foods when cooking and enjoying meals at home. They have a better chance of instilling healthier habits when eating together at the table. For an example, a mom who wants her children to eat more vegetables will be more successful by eating those exact vegetables at the table with them. Children learn first by watching! Furthermore, this article goes into more detail about the nutritional benefits of enjoying meals – including better absorption, digestion and mindfulness.

Family meals = happier individuals = happier together

Research shows that frequent family meals increase self esteem and a sense of wellbeing for all. When an individual – whether it be someone who lives on their own, a stressed parent, or a growing teenager – has an increased self esteem and sense of wellbeing, everyone benefits. This can lead to better emotional relations both in and out of the house. Ultimately, when self esteem and wellbeing are higher, the family connection increases, as well.

Family meals = easier on the budget

When families eat meals together at home they are more likely to utilize the foods they have already purchased on a grocery trip. When we maximize the use of foods in the house, there is less food waste. While a quick drive through meal may look like a cheaper option momentarily, the actual cost per meal is significantly more than meal planning for the entire household.  Bonus – gets put back in the long term healthcare pocket because once again meals at home tend to be more nutrient dense.

I could go on listing benefits, but I’ll finish with some practical tools instead.

We know that eating meals together as a family unit has benefits. Surveys show that Americans really do want to eat more meals together, but people are asking how. It must be realistic for you and those you are bringing to the table. Maybe that means just one more meal together than what you currently do. Or being flexible with the term “family meal” – it could be breakfast if everyone has their own activities in the evening. Being smart about prepping freezer meals or utilizing crock pot recipes so that dinner can be ready at a reasonable time can help. See the recipe below for an example of a freezer friendly meal for busy families. There are many pre-prepped meal kits and local services to help with this time factor, as well.

I know many of you reading this may cough at the idea of a “family meal” or the goal of trying to implement more of them in your routine, but I encourage you to think outside of the box. For instance, I don’t live in the same household as my family. But this doesn’t mean that I haven’t worked hard this month to include more family meals. For me, this means not coming home late eating in front of my laptop. It means planning and cooking a meal with a friend rather than going out for happy hour. I have called  my grandma and scheduled a dinner with her this week and have invited my mom and dad over for a “Meatless Monday”. To me, it means bringing dinner to my sister and her family to help them have just one more meal together that they don’t have to stress over making. Find what family meal means to you, personally, and make dinner together happen.