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It's no secret that humans enjoy sharing meals together. A really good meal shared by candlelight with close friends over a bottle of wine is a recipe for a magical evening. But really, what's so special about making and sharing a good meal? And how can we enjoy more of these magical moments in our busy daily lives?

Why is making a meal valuable?

We all need to eat, but often we rush to throw something together, use premade foods, or pick up meals to bring home. And while these can be helpful, making a habit of them keeps you from a myriad of benefits from cooking. Intentionally setting aside time to cook:

• Can help relieve stress
• Makes you a life-long learner: Cooking always involves learning, whether it's a new kitchen tool, a challenging recipe, or trying out cuisine from a different culture, cooking encourages life-long learning
• Gives opportunities to be creative
• Gives you a sense of accomplishment
• Shows love: Whether you're cooking for family, friends, or just yourself, cooking is an act of love for those who will enjoy the finished meal
• Encourages a healthy relationship with food and empowers you to know (and choose) what's going into your body

What about sharing a meal?

Making time to eat intentionally with those around you has benefits beyond the dinner table:

• Naturally builds in mindful moments in your day to day life, slowing down with those close to you
• Encourages healthy relationships with food
• Helps you to eat slower, increasing your enjoyment of the food and decreasing overeating
• Deepens relationships with those around you: Sharing a meal is a simple inter-generational activity that can include even the oldest and the youngest

But what about my kids?

Believe it or not, your kids can help in the kitchen and enjoy mealtime with you. And it's good for them! Sound too good to be true? Here's a brief list of possible benefits for your kids: Aid in development of communication and vocabulary skills, fine motor skills, understanding of causal relationships, math and reading skills, and more. Cooking with you can also improve confidence and independence, encourage a healthy relationship with food, and even help a picky eater branch out.

Sure, this might sound good with a seven year old, but what about a toddler? While toddlers may tend to make a mess of things while pouring or stirring, it's well worth the trouble as it aids in their development and encourages them to be active members of the household. Of course, we don't always have the ability to fit these messy teaching moments into our days. But there are always little tasks that can give your little ones a sense of helpfulness and independence while really, truly helping you:

• Set up a space for them to break off the hard stalks of asparagus or tear lettuce for salads
• Station them near the utensils as you cook, ready to pass along spoons and tongs that are just out of reach
• Have them bring napkins or forks to the table
• Have them ask those joining for dinner what they'd like to drink
• Wash fruits and vegetables

It's the little things!

Choosing to slow down and enjoy these moments is not always easy, but these little changes can make a big difference. Make your daily meals something to celebrate: choose recipes you enjoy making, include kids, open a bottle of wine, and light a candle or two. At the end of the day, we all need to eat. We may as well lean in and enjoy it!

Cooking and sharing meals encourages you to be a life-long learner, connect with those around you, and find joy in the satisfaction of the most basic of human needs. Including your kids gives them opportunities to strengthen communication and motor skills while gaining confidence and deepening relationships. From prep to cleanup, making and sharing a meal can be an inter-generational activity that benefits everyone.

Cheers to that! 🥂

For more inspiration, view National Geographic's "Joy of Food" here

See more of Summer Staeb's photos here

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