As we kick off the At the Table Holiday Series, I’m so excited to share this guest post by Joy Marker. Below, Joy challenges us to consider the value of gathering together at the table. And while we naturally tend towards it during the holidays, may be we should remember it is important year round. Be sure to give Joy’s gluten-free Apple Crumble recipe that accompanies this post a try, it is absolutely delicious. ~Gwendolyn

Special Guest Post by Joy Marker

“I am so thankful for our family.” My son announced one night at dinner. After expressing gratitude for his appreciation of his family, we asked what had motivated this statement. The answer was that a teacher had asked the students to share their favorite things about Thanksgiving at school that day. One student replied that he loved Thanksgiving because he got to eat at the table with his family. Since eating at the table as a family was an almost everyday occurrence, it saddened my son to learn that many families don’t eat meals together regularly.

According to the Food Marketing Institute, just forty percent of American families eat dinner together, and then, no more than two or three times a week. Yet, study after study will tell us that gathering at the table for meals provides physical, emotional, and social benefits. Gathering at the table with family and friends allows us to share our stories, get to know one another, and better understand ourselves.

You might have heard that there is value in gathering at the table. But do you know it’s not just about the conversation? According to an article on southernliving.com, there was a 2014 study showing a direct link between the brain region responsible for taste memory and the area responsible for encoding the time and place we experienced the taste. It seems food and celebrations with food help to build strong memories.

Gathering together at the table is more than just satisfying our hunger. Through food and community, we are creating memories and building social connections. Gathering together at the table enjoying a meal helps us write beautiful stories about our lives.

“It’s not just a cultural coincidence that throughout the ages, all over the world, people gather together at a meal in order to get to know one another. ”

— Leonard Sweet | From Tablet to Table

Our schedules may not allow us to cook from scratch or have family dinner at the table every evening. But what might it look like if we considered gathering at the table with family and friends a priority? What unforgettable memories could we begin to build with the routines we create around the food we serve?

One of my favorite routines is creating meals around seasonal flavors. In the fall, that means I include many apples and pumpkins in our meal planning. At our house, apple crumble makes a regular appearance; maybe you’d like to try it? Recipe: Joy’s Apple Crumble