The way of life of the inhabitants of Ikaria has indicated the importance of family meals. Their benefit has been scientifically proven by studies of major universities worldwide. In particular, in a study by the University of Illinois, USA, with a sample of 120 children aged 7-11 years, it appeared that children who used to share mealtimes with their families performed better in tests of cognitive abilities, compared to their peers who were not so familiar with similar family moments. This finding is also confirmed by research from Columbia University, according to which students who have 3 or more meals a week with their family also have higher school performance. The research carried out by Dr. Catherine Snow at Harvard University, who argues that conversations between parents and children during meals help them assimilate new vocabulary, even more so than reading time.

Although traditionally holding family meals in our country is an integral part of everyday life, the fast pace of our time tends to eliminate this habit, while also reducing the total time we spend with our family. Beyond the benefits of these moments in children’s school performance, their contribution to the adoption of better nutritional choices is also noteworthy. The family is the basic environment in which a child develops and shapes his eating habits. Undoubtedly, parents are role models for younger family members who, from a very young age, imitate their behaviors and food choices. It should not be overlooked that gathering family members around the table reduces the risk of young people adopting risky behaviors such as drugs and alcohol. Both the preparation and consumption of meals create a sense of unity and a multitude of other emotions that have a beneficial effect on the psychology of children and adults. So saving a little time in the day is priceless for us and our children.