Ada, OK –  Many families are starved for time together, but the best opportunity to remedy that comes around every day — family mealtime.

         Busy schedules make it difficult to have family dinners around the table, but sharing a family meal four to seven times a week lowers the risk of eating disorders, obesity, bullying, substance abuse, and increases academic success, chances of graduating from high school and attending college.

            Despite the benefits, 25 percent of teenagers polled within the Chickasaw Nation never sit down to eat dinner with their families, so the Chickasaw Nation Nutrition Services has started an initiative called “Mealtime Blessings” to encourage families to make the most out of mealtime.

Mealtime Blessings offer conversation starters, blessing journals, and recipes. Connie Merriman, Senior advisor to secretary of health, said she thinks everyone wants to slow down and enjoy his or her family. The materials Mealtime Blessings offers help families do just that.  

“One mother shared that she has a four-year-old who as a really tough time paying attention,” Merriman said. “He has attention deficit disorder, and she said, ‘Since we’ve been doing the conversation starters, he’s been able to complete a meal, stay at the table and stay engaged with us.’”

Regular family meals take effort to plan, but the mental and physical benefits are worth it. Chickasaw elder David Holland said he plans to use Mealtime Blessing materials to converses with his family without electronic distractions.

“I am thrilled with it,” Holland said. “I have seven grandchildren, six boys. They’re all like every other ages six through 20. They’re all on those electronic things. So getting them off those to look at you face to face, not FaceTime but face to face, is amazing.”

            For more information about Mealtime Blessings, contact Chickasaw Nation Nutrition

Services at (888) 436-7255 or check out the Mealtime Blessings Facebook page for instant resources.