Expert Dinner Advice

To help you make your meals more meaningful, we've provided a selection of articles and studies that offer incredible insight into the American family table. Our favorite expert on family time and family rituals, Dr. William J. Doherty, Ph.D., is a professor at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Family Social Science. He is author of a book on family rituals, titled The Intentional Family, and of all the articles about family dinnertime featured below.

"Keep children involved in the conversation. It's okay for parents to talk with each other, but don't turn the family dinner into adult conversation time.�Consider having adult time after the meal over coffee." - William J. Doherty
ARTICLES
The Importance of Family Meals

The Importance of Family Meals

Family meals are precious opportunities for family connection in a hurry-up world.

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Research on the Benefits of Family Meals

Research on the Benefits of Family Meals

For children, mealtime is more powerful than time spent in school, studying, or playing sports.

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Share the Table™: The Barilla Family Dinner Project™

Share the Table™: The Barilla Family Dinner Project™

Our "Come Back to the Table" survey showed three out of four families do not eat dinner at the same time.

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Taking Back Time for Family Dinners in a Busy World

Taking Back Time for Family Dinners in a Busy World

If dinners are important to you, be an advocate for this priority.

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Connecting During Family Mealtime

Connecting During Family Mealtime

A family check-in can spark conversation about what is going on in one another's lives.

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Family Dinner Advice: What to Avoid During Family Dinners

Family Dinner Advice: What to Avoid During Family Dinners

Family meals can go wrong, and mostly it's unintentional errors we make as parents.

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Family Dinner Preparation

Family Dinner Preparation

Often it's the little things that add up to good family dinnertimes or not so good ones.

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How to Talk to Your Family Members About Changing Family Dinnertime

How to Talk to Your Family Members About Changing Family Dinnertime

We get used to things the way they have been, even if that way hasn’t been satisfying.

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TAKE THE QUIZ TAKE THE QUIZ

How are you doing with your family dinners? Take our quiz and find out.

PDF DOWNLOADS

Benefits of the Family Dinner for Parents and Children. A White Paper Study

As featured in Family Circle magazine, this new report details the importance of family dinners in children’s lives and how higher-quality dinner experiences impact the family as a whole.

Download Now PDF (966k)

Benefits of the Family Dinner for Parents and Children. A White Paper Study

As featured in Family Circle magazine, this new report details the importance of family dinners in children’s lives and how higher-quality dinner experiences impact the family as a whole.

Download Now PDF (813k)

A Guide to Making Family Mealtime More Meaningful

Eating together as a family–and well–is easier than you might think. Enjoy tips and recipes to make dinnertime more meaningful.

Download Now PDF (535k)

Share the Table: The State of Dinnertime in America. A White Paper Study

An in-depth study about how often the average American family eats dinner together and the benefits to adults and children of sharing meals.

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