(NewsUSA) - Family Meals Nurture Civility and Connection at the Table

Whether it’s laughing over spaghetti or tackling tough conversations, family meals offer more than just food. They foster connection. Now, new research released today by the FMI Foundation, substantiates that family meals also promote something our world desperately needs – increased civility. According to the report, family meals create opportunities to model civil discussions among those gathered around the table. The shared meal offers a safe space for families to share day-to-day struggles and successes while learning to disagree respectfully and support each other.

In April 2025, the FMI Foundation, a nonprofit organization that offers research, education, and resources related to health and well-being, surveyed approximately 1,000 adult grocery shoppers from throughout the U.S. Of these, just over half responded that family meals help them feel more connected. The 2025 Staying Strong with Family Meals Barometer Survey found that sharing a meal impacts our ability to be civil. Additionally, 66% of respondents agreed that a meal together promotes more civil conversation.

Almost three-quarters of respondents agreed that family meals are a great time to have and teach respectful interactions with children and teens, and 68% agreed that frequent family meals provide a safe environment for family members to discuss thorny social issues.

The civil impact of family meals also extends to teen behavior. Numerous studies indicate that youth who routinely participate in family meals have higher grades, lower rates of drug use, delayed sexual activity, as well as reduced symptoms of depression, violence, and suicide.

“Family meals are society’s super-power to producing healthier, happier, more productive citizens,” according to David Fikes, executive director of the FMI Foundation. “Dining together with loved ones contributes to higher self-esteem, greater resilience, and improved problem-solving skills in children, and more informed, engaged, and supportive parents.

Thirty years of research and thousands of studies show that family meals provide a setting for families to address many common challenges, such as poor communication among family members, conflicting schedules, lack of time together and supporting healthier eating choices.

The Family Meals Movement is an outreach program designed to educate the public about the many benefits of family meals. It also encourages people to have just one more meal per week with loved ones.

It all starts with one meal. Learn more at www.FamilyMealsMovement.org.