The Surprising Power of Family Meals: How Eating Together Makes Us Smarter, Stronger, Healthier, and Happier Hardcover - 2005

First line

WHAT IF I told you that there was a magic bullet  something that would improve the quality of your daily life, your children's chances of success in the world, your family's health, our values as a society?

Media reviews

"There's a lot more to family dinners than meets the eye. They have 'the power of ritual,' giving parents and kids the chance to connect, adding a sense of security to the daily routine. They're an opportunity for parents to teach about family history and traditions, so that they give kids a sense of identity. Even dysfunctional families seem to work just a little bit better when they make time to eat dinner together. The point is, family meals aren't just about food. As Weinstein puts it, 'Supper is about nourishment of all kinds.' That includes physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual nourishment."
— CBN.com

"Weinstein does not look through rose-colored glasses. She acknowledges that single-parent households, dual-income families, extracurricular activities and peer pressure promote skipped meals and dashboard dining. She offers strategies for bringing back this simple but highly effective communion."
— The Plain Dealer

"Children who grow up with a strong sense of family are likely to become solid, healthy adults. Sitting down together for supper - or any other occasion - is essential to family, and its importance cannot be overestimated."
— Washington Post

"Having regular family meals can eliminate teen eating disorders; improve children's grades; reduce the incidence of drug abuse, teen pregnancy and smoking; and even expand toddlers' vocabulary. . . . Weinstein's case studies are stimulating, and her writing style is persuasive enough to convince readers to make a point of enjoying an evening meal with their families."
— Publishers Weekly


"Thoughtful, meticulously researched . . . Weinstein offers small steps families can take to reinstitute this basic tradition."
— Newsday

"Weinstein researched the benefits of the family supper and concluded that the practice cements relationships. The immediate goal is for your family to walk away from the table feeling pleasure. . . . The family dinner is bonding and opens the lines of communication."
— Dallas Morning News