The Times Australia
The Times Lifestyle

.

Top Tips To Make Family Dinners Easier For All Australian Families In 2024



It is fairly well known that if a family eats together then they will stay together. We live in a very technological world and so it can be very difficult getting everyone to sit at the table at one time and if you are the head of the family then it’s time that you drew a line in the sand and insisted that everyone come together at least once every few days. Shared meals are incredibly good for kids in a physical and psychological way. Children who eat at the dinner table and share their thoughts with their siblings and parents do better at school and get much higher grades than their counterparts who continue to play on their various devices.

You need to stop using the excuse as a parent that you are too busy trying to hold down a job to pay all of the bills. It’s time that you and your family started to enjoy the benefits of sitting down for a meal together and if you have to invest in things like a server cabinet to make the process easier then that is what you do. Anything that makes serving the meal more straightforward so that more time can be spent talking together is a huge plus and this is something that we all should be thinking about buying.

The following are just some top tips to make your family meals easier this year and every year.

  • It doesn’t have to be everyday - Asking all of your family members to come together for a meal seven days a week is a large ask and so try to aim for something a little lower. Even if your family members only come together twice a week then this allows everyone to reap the benefits of doing so. It leads to better communication skills as children talk to their parents, which is very unusual in today’s society. The meals should be prepared with everyone’s health in mind and with everyone’s preferences as well.
  • It can be at any meal - Don’t just restrict yourself to the evening meal after everyone has come home from work or came back from school. A family meal can be enjoyed just as easily at breakfast or lunch and the fact that it is happening at all is a huge plus. Sometimes everyone has such a busy schedule with doing homework or taking home work from the office that sitting down together in the evening can be a nonstarter.
  • It doesn’t always have to be healthy - Sometimes it’s nice to treat your family to some of their favourite food and if this means that a little bit of junk food is to be enjoyed occasionally then that’s okay. Just make sure that you include lots of fresh fruit and vegetables into the mix and this will help to balance things out.

If you follow these three tips then there’s no reason to think that your family members won’t want to come together regularly.

Times Lifestyle

Exploring the Curriculum at a Modern Junior School in Melbourne

Key Highlights The curriculum at junior schools emphasises whole-person development, catering to children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. It ensures early years students build strong literacy and numeracy foundations for lifelong...

How Smart Home Integration is Enhancing SIL Accommodation in 2025

(Source) The concept of "home" is intensely personal, a sanctuary where we experience security, comfort, and a sense of being in control. For people living with disability, accomplishing absolute independence within their domestic environment has ...

How to Know If You’re Actually on Track for a Comfortable Retirement

Image by Drazen Zigic on Freepik It’s the kind of question that sits in the back of your mind, especially as you tick past your 30s or 40s: Am I actually saving enough for retirement? It’s easy to assume things are fine if your super account grows ...

Boxer Star Harry Garside Champions Breathwork as a Game-Changer for Athletes

Olympic boxer Harry Garside is known for his unconventional approach to training but one practice has profoundly shifted his mindset and performance: breathwork. Moving from ballet to boxing, Harry, 27, was first introduced to Holotropic breathw...

Hampers With Bite - A box of life’s little luxuries

How do you acknowledge special moments, special someones, special achievements…or just give yourself a special treat? For all of the above, and more, you can turn to Hampers With Bite.I was lucky enough to be treated to a lovely box of selfcare goo...

Mind-Body Balance: The Holistic Approach of Personal Training in Moonee Ponds

Key Highlights Discover the benefits of a holistic approach to personal training in Moonee Ponds and nearby Maribyrnong, including residents from Strathmore. Learn how mind-body balance can enhance your overall well-being. Explore techniques f...

Times Magazine

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Times Features

Duke of Dural to Get Rooftop Bar as New Owners Invest in Venue Upgrade

The Duke of Dural, in Sydney’s north-west, is set for a major uplift under new ownership, following its acquisition by hospitality group Good Beer Company this week. Led by resp...

Prefab’s Second Life: Why Australia’s Backyard Boom Needs a Circular Makeover

The humble granny flat is being reimagined not just as a fix for housing shortages, but as a cornerstone of circular, factory-built architecture. But are our systems ready to s...

Melbourne’s Burglary Boom: Break-Ins Surge Nearly 25%

Victorian homeowners are being warned to act now, as rising break-ins and falling arrest rates paint a worrying picture for suburban safety. Melbourne residents are facing an ...

Exploring the Curriculum at a Modern Junior School in Melbourne

Key Highlights The curriculum at junior schools emphasises whole-person development, catering to children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. It ensures early year...

Distressed by all the bad news? Here’s how to stay informed but still look after yourself

If you’re feeling like the news is particularly bad at the moment, you’re not alone. But many of us can’t look away – and don’t want to. Engaging with news can help us make ...

The Role of Your GP in Creating a Chronic Disease Management Plan That Works

Living with a long-term condition, whether that is diabetes, asthma, arthritis or heart disease, means making hundreds of small decisions every day. You plan your diet against m...