Monday 16 April 2007

Feed Your Belly – and Your Mind!

The specimen is known as a teenager. Come mealtime, it grabs a plate and a glass of juice, and goes into hiding in its room. Soon, the sound of loud music mixing with videogame gunshots emanate from the room. Stay Out! reads the sign on the door.

If meals were only about eating food, there would be nothing wrong with the scene described above. But according to experts in adolescent development, the value of family spends eating together, the less likely its teenage children are to engage in self-destructive activities such as smoking and drinking. Other benefits range from picking up new vocabulary through conversation to performing well in school. Moreover, lending a hand in preparing meals can boost a teenager’s self-esteem.

One specialist even contends that family meals can “civilize children” and “teach them to be a member of their culture.” Spending time with members of your family is an excellent occasion to exchange ideas, talk about problems and share feelings. It is one of the rare moments when everybody is together. So turn off the TV, enjoy the food, and feed your mind by sharing with your loved ones!

-by J. Michael Cole
Summary
The teenagers may eat their meal in their own room. In the view of some experts in adolescent development, there are many advantages to have children enjoy their meal with their family. Moreover, sharing problems and feelings in family mealtime is quiet important.

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