The importance of family time around the dinner table – plus a cheesy pasta recipe
Through the launch of their brand-new television campaign, Royco is encouraging families to switch off devices for quality face-to-face time around the dinner table.
Social media, work, and an endless variety of entertainment are available to us through our devices. As a result, we have trouble maintaining real-life connections with our family and friends.
Food plays a significant role in bringing people together. Sitting down to enjoy a meal with your loved ones builds stronger emotional bonds between family members as values are caught, not taught. The benefit of enjoying a family meal without distractions is that it creates a safe environment where tough conversations can take place, allowing you to tackle daily life stresses together. In addition, mealtime creates a space where happy moments are shared and loved ones can laugh together.
Family therapist Anne Fishel, executive director of the Family Dinner Project, reported that only 30 per cent of families eat together. It also suggests those who prioritise family dinners are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and eating disorders. According to a separate report, children who sit down and connect with their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings are more likely to have improved mental health, perform better academically, and have higher self-esteem.
“Our TV ad aims to capture the magic that happens when we disconnect from external distractions and take the time to sit down over a meal and reconnect. Studies show that our overwhelming lifestyles are chipping away at family life. In a world that has never been more connected, families are leading separate lives while living under one roof, in separate rooms, and on separate devices, and as a result, have lost true connection with each other. We believe in the power of dinnertime to get people to sit down and share a meal,” says Vickey Kahn, Food Portfolio Manager at Mars.
Royco recognises that sitting down to enjoy a meal together is one of the healthiest habits for a family. That is why Royco commits to taking the hard work out of cooking so that you can spend more time with your loved ones. We’re bringing back the family dinner, and we’re declaring it a sacred space – a no-screen zone.
Try this quick and easy, cheesy chicken pasta bake
Serves 4
You’ll need: 2 packets Royco Creamy Cheese Sauce; 400g pasta, cooked; 4 chicken breast fillets, cooked and chopped; 1 x 400 g tin Tomato & Onion Mix; 2 Tbsp sugar; ½ cup cheddar cheese, grated (optional)
How to:
Prepare Royco Creamy Cheese Sauce according to packet instructions.
Preheat the oven to 180°C. In a large bowl add the pasta, chicken, tinned tomato, and sugar and pour over Royco sauce, stir well.
Place mixture into an ovenproof roasting dish, and sprinkle over cheddar.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbling.
For more recipe ideas, head over to www.royco.co.za
