My Year of 100 Family Dinners Week 48: Dinners #125-127

Why Being Together Matters More Than What’s on the Plate

This week brought us right back into the full swing of life after a few quiet days at my childhood home.

Monday was easy. Calm. We eased back into the week and enjoyed a simple dinner together. Nothing fancy. No elevated meal. And I’ll admit something I’ve been sitting with: when I started this year of 100 family dinners, I also hoped I’d get more creative in the kitchen.

That hasn’t happened.

And I’m learning that’s okay.

What Dinner Is Really About

Research has shown over and over that the act of eating together matters far more than what’s being served. Studies from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Family Dinner Project consistently find that kids who regularly eat family meals:

• develop healthier long-term eating habits

• consume more fruits and vegetables overall

• have lower rates of disordered eating

• show better emotional and social well-being

It turns out that when kids eat together regularly, they tend to make healthier choices over time, regardless of whether dinner is gourmet or basic. Connection, not cuisine, is the protective factor.

That reframing has helped me let go of the pressure to “do more” with dinner. Showing up matters most.

Busy Evenings, Intentional Schedules

After Monday, the week filled up fast: play rehearsals, doctor appointments, board meetings, work, and the regular hum of teenage life.

My kids don’t have packed schedules. That’s intentional. They each have two main activities: theater for both, football for my son, dance for my daughter. That’s it.

There’s strong research behind this choice too. Child development studies from the American Academy of Pediatrics and psychologists like Dr. David Elkind show that unstructured time and even boredom are essential for kids. Downtime helps teens:

• develop creativity and problem-solving skills

• regulate stress and emotions

• build intrinsic motivation

• learn how to entertain themselves

Boredom is often where imagination and independence grow.

Three Dinners and a Quiet Weekend

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings were too packed for family dinner. But Friday and Saturday? We were together.

Three dinners felt like a solid win.

The kids voted for a quiet weekend at home and that’s exactly what I gave them. No plans. No outings. Just space to be.

My daughter crafted.My son played video games, FaceTimed friends, and designed things on Canva (some of his favorite ways to unwind.)

There was comfort in the calm. Ease in the rhythm.

The Heart of This Week

This week reminded me that connection doesn’t require perfection or productivity.

It happens when we sit together, even briefly.When we protect downtime.When we choose presence over performance.

Three dinners.A quiet weekend.A family that’s steady, connected, and ready for what’s next.

And honestly? That feels like success. 💛