Family meals: More than just food In times past, sitting down together as a family to eat a meal was not only expected, but an important time of the day when parents and children would connect with each other. It was during this time that children were learning healthy eating habits, how to make better food choices and establishing healthy eating patterns. In the article What’s Happened to the Family Meal, author Jennifer Gish states that “Eating as a family for at least a few meals a week has been linked to healthier meal choices, fewer cases of substance abuse among teens, and kids with a better sense of well-being.” (Gish) Unfortunately, eating together as a family has become less common over the years due to the increase in parent’s