Family
How Eating Together Benefits Your Family
Last Updated on August 11, 2025 by Daily News Staff
(Family Features) Sharing a meal offers far more than a full stomach; the benefits of eating together extend well beyond the dinner table.
In the “2025 World Happiness Report,” evidence shows that sharing meals has a substantial impact on an individual’s well-being. Those who regularly eat with others report higher life satisfaction and display higher levels of social support, positive reciprocity and less loneliness.
Learn more about how sharing a meal can improve your family’s overall well-being with these insights from the experts at the FMI Foundation and their “2025 Family Meals Barometer survey,” which delivers research, collaboration and education to address food safety, health and nutrition concerns.
Civil and Respectful Interactions
In a world full of distractions, it may come as no surprise the “2025 Family Meals Barometer” survey found poor communication is a leading concern among parents, more worrisome than schoolwork or chores.
More than two-thirds of respondents expressed a belief that civility in America is worse today compared to 10 years ago, but 74% said family meals are a great time to have and teach respectful interactions. Frequent family meals create a safe environment for families to discuss thornier societal issues.
Better Nutrition
Numerous studies have shown families who eat more meals together have healthier eating habits and better diets in general. Family meals at home typically make it easier to fill plates with food from each food group. What’s more, parents who prepare well-balanced meals and model healthy food choices allow children to mirror and adopt similar habits.
Improved Family Function
In the “2025 Family Meals Barometer” survey, respondents cited having more time to spend together and family meals as the top two ways they feel more connected to family and loved ones. With busy school and extracurricular schedules, many families are hard-pressed to find quality time together without distractions. Gathering around the dinner table is an opportunity to connect with one another and talk about what’s happening at work, school and with friends.
Better Grades at School
Numerous factors affect students’ academic performance, but eating together as a family helps reinforce many of the variables thought to influence student success. More nutritious meals play a role in stronger cognitive function. Multiple researchers found that children who are part of families that eat together regularly tend to have a stronger vocabulary and higher grades.
Improved Mental Health
Another way family meals benefit students at school and beyond is stronger mental and emotional health. In several independent studies, researchers found a positive correlation between family meals and self-esteem, psychosocial outcomes and other markers of mental health.
Learn how gathering around the dinner table supports your family’s nutritional, social, mental and emotional health at fmi.org/family-meals-movement .
Make Dinner Prep a Family Affair
The benefits of eating together as a family don’t have to wait until everyone is at the table. During dinner prep, parents and children have a chance to work elbow-to-elbow and talk about their days. When children participate in preparing healthy food, they may be more interested in eating it. As an added bonus, kids who take part in food preparation enjoy the benefits of building their own life skills.
DIY dishes that put kids in charge of what goes on their plates can be a fun way to bring the family together and make meal prep easy. You can customize salad kits with a selection of protein options, create your own personal pizzas or serve a bar-style dinner such as nachos, baked potatoes or tacos that let each family member choose their own toppings.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (family eating together)
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Community
Zum Begins 2026–27 School Year With Expanded Student Transportation Network
Zum is launching the 2026–27 school year with expanded school bus operations in Fresno, Los Angeles and other communities, bringing real-time tracking and modern transportation technology to students and families.
New partnerships in Fresno and Kansas join ongoing operations in Omaha, St. Louis, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles
As millions of students return to classrooms, transportation company Zūm is beginning the 2026–27 school year with new district partnerships, expanded technology deployments and thousands of drivers preparing for what the company calls “the most important commute in America.”
The Redwood City, California-based student mobility company announced that its teams have completed months of driver training, route validation and operational planning ahead of the new academic year.
“There is nothing quite like the first day of school at Zum,” founder and CEO Ritu Narayan said in the company’s announcement. “You see drivers arriving before sunrise, teams making final preparations and buses rolling out of yards across the country—all united around one purpose: getting students safely and reliably to school.”
New buses roll out in Fresno
One of Zūm’s largest new launches is in California’s Fresno Unified School District. According to the company, 168 buses were placed into service just two weeks after its local team moved into a new transportation yard.
The district is also introducing the Zūm Parent App, which allows families to track buses in real time, receive arrival alerts, view scheduled rides and receive notifications when a child boards or exits a bus. Registered students will receive bus cards connected to the transportation system, according to Fresno Unified.
The rollout is part of a broader change in how Fresno Unified manages student transportation. Routes and stops will continue to be evaluated using registration information, actual ridership and family feedback, the district says. Beginning September 28, registered students will generally be required to show a bus pass before boarding. Fresno Unified’s transportation page provides registration instructions and assistance for families.
Technology comes to LAUSD’s in-house fleet
In Los Angeles, Zūm says its CMX technology has been deployed across the Los Angeles Unified School District’s internally operated bus fleet.
The platform is designed to connect routing, dispatch, drivers, schools, transportation officials and families through one operating system. Its tools include real-time vehicle visibility, route planning, operational coordination and family communications.
Rather than replacing the district’s in-house drivers, the Los Angeles deployment focuses on providing the technology used to coordinate district-operated buses.
New partnership in Kansas
Zūm also began a new partnership with the Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas. District leaders, drivers, monitors and school employees marked the start of the program with a launch celebration.
The company said Shawnee Mission’s transition is intended to give the district a more modern and technology-supported approach to student transportation.
Meanwhile, Zūm is returning for a third school year in Omaha and Santa Barbara. Its St. Louis operation is entering its second year.
Drivers remain at the center
Although technology plays a growing role in school transportation, Zūm emphasized that drivers remain essential to the daily experience of students and their families.
“Back to school is when months of preparation come to life,” said Liz Sanchez, Zūm’s executive vice president of student mobility. “Our teams spend months hiring and training drivers, validating routes and working alongside our district partners to prepare.”
Drivers often serve as the first school-related adults students see in the morning and the last they see before returning home. Their work can also determine whether students arrive safely and on time—especially in communities where families have limited transportation choices.
A changing school-bus experience
School transportation has traditionally depended on separate systems for scheduling, dispatching, vehicle tracking and communicating with parents. Zūm CMX is designed to bring those functions together and give school districts a clearer view of their daily operations.
For families, the most visible change may be access to real-time bus locations and arrival notifications. These tools can reduce some of the uncertainty associated with late buses, route changes and missed pickups.
Zūm reports that its technology and transportation services now support more than 6,500 schools across 19 states. As the company expands, the 2026–27 school year will test how effectively its technology, drivers and district partnerships can translate into dependable daily service.
For students, however, the goal remains straightforward: a safe ride to school, a reliable trip home and one less obstacle between them and their education.
This article is based primarily on information provided in an August 21, 2026, Zūm press release. Statements about the company’s national reach, fleet deployments and technology are attributed to Zūm unless independently noted.
Source: Zūm official website
Related links:
- Fresno Unified: Zūm Parent App
- Fresno Unified: New Transportation Model
- Fresno Unified: Bus Routes
- Fresno Unified: Back-to-School Resources
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Community
ABCs for School Zone Safety: Tips for Drivers, Pedestrians and Bicyclists
School Zone Safety: A new school year means there’s more traffic around school campuses. Between dropoffs and pickups, children riding bicycles, walking to school and all the shuttling between sports practices and other extracurricular activities, this season is a reminder to make every trip to and from school a safe one.
ABCs for School Zone Safety: Tips for Drivers, Pedestrians and Bicyclists
(Feature Impact) A new school year means there’s more traffic around school campuses. Between dropoffs and pickups, children riding bicycles, walking to school and all the shuttling between sports practices and other extracurricular activities, this season is a reminder to make every trip to and from school a safe one.
To make sure no parent worries about their child getting to school safely, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and Caltrans are encouraging drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists to remember their “ABCs” on every trip: stay Alert for Bicyclists and watch for and yield to Children crossing the street.
With students in school and traffic patterns changing, consider these tips so students arrive to and from class safely:
Drivers
Because children outside of vehicles do not have the same protections as drivers and passengers, drivers have an outsized role to protect people walking, biking and rolling.
- Take your time and be patient.
- Always follow the speed limit.
- Use extra caution at crosswalks and intersections, especially if you notice children nearby.
- Don’t drive distracted – even a quick glance at your phone can have tragic consequences.
- Never drive while impaired.
- Adjust your driving to the conditions and use extra caution in rain, fog and darkness.
- If you see a bicyclist ahead, wait until it’s safe to pass and give them at least 3 feet of space when you do.
Pedestrians
Pedestrians have an important role in their own safety, particularly in school zones and crosswalks where children and other people may be present.
- Use sidewalks when available. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic so you can see drivers and they can see you.
- Avoid crossing outside of crosswalks. If there is a signalized crosswalk or marked crosswalk, use it.
- Before crossing the street, look both ways. If there are any stopped or turning cars, try to make eye contact with the drivers before crossing so you know they see you.
- If you’re walking after dark or when visibility is poor, make yourself visible by wearing something bright or reflective and shining a light.
- Stay alert – don’t wear headphones or use your phone while crossing the street or walking across a busy road.
Bicyclists
Bicyclists can help protect themselves by staying alert and visible, especially in areas where traffic, pedestrians and young students may be present.
- When possible, plan your route along bike paths or roads with dedicated bike lanes away from vehicle traffic.
- Equip your bicycle with lights and reflectors to be more visible to drivers and pedestrians.
- Wear a properly fitted helmet and bright clothing.
- Learn cyclist hand signals to communicate when you’re turning, slowing or stopping.
- Stay aware of drivers and always yield to pedestrians.
To learn more and join the movement, visit GoSafelyCA.org.
E-Bike Safety Tips
With more young people using e-bikes than ever before, it’s important that riders and their parents or guardians understand the risks involved and make smart, safe choices.
Since e-bikes can travel at faster speeds than traditional bicycles, they pose greater risk for serious injury or death in the event of a crash. Class 1 and 2 e-bikes can both travel at up to 20 mph unassisted, while Class 3 e-bikes can go as fast as 28 mph unassisted.
E-bike rules vary based on the top unassisted speed, but parents and guardians should follow these tips for e-bikes:
- Many local ordinances and state laws restrict e-bike use for minors or require special licensing.
- Helmets are required for riders under age 18 for Class 1-2 e-bikes and all riders on Class 3 e-bikes, regardless of age.
- You must be 16 years or older to ride a Class 3 e-bike.
- Never ride e-bikes that don’t have pedals as they could be considered e-motos and not legally permitted on roads.
- Ride in bike lanes or on legal paths, avoiding roads with traffic when possible.
- Be as predictable as possible and use caution when making turns, crossing streets or riding in conditions with poor visibility.
E-bike rules may vary by state and regionally. Contact local law enforcement regarding local laws.
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Family
6 Hacks to Prep Your Mudroom for Back-to-School Season
When school is back in session, it means a lot of coming and going to and from your home – often in a rush. Start with these mudroom organization and habit hacks to make your family’s daily routines a little easier.
(Feature Impact) When school is back in session, it means a lot of coming and going to and from your home – often in a rush. Smooth out those morning scrambles and save yourself some afternoon cleanups by turning your mudroom into a space that feels more organized and less chaotic.
Start with these mudroom organization and habit hacks to make your family’s daily routines a little easier.
Do a Beginning-of-Year Declutter
If the coat hooks are still sporting rain jackets the kids outgrew several seasons ago, that’s your sign to plan a purge. Out with the old, in with the new: collect last year’s coats, too-small shoes, the backpack with the broken zipper, worn-out accessories and that pile of junk mail then figure out what to keep, toss and donate.
Create a “Get-Out-The-Door” Spot for Essentials
“Have you seen my…” is a sentence you can only stand to hear (and say) so many times in one morning. Set up shelves or baskets for important items like keys, permission slips, library books, water bottles, lunchboxes, sports gear and anything else that needs to leave the house with the family. Repetition will build the habit, and even if things still get lost from time to time, this system gives everyone a first place to look.
Choose a Shoe System
Whether you’re a shoe rack kind of family or you’ve got DIY dreams of building an aesthetic wooden bench with shoe storage underneath, lock it in. Shoes are easy for kids to kick off when they get home, and if they aren’t sure where to put them, they’ll remain wherever they land or pile up by the door. Also consider putting down washable mats so grime doesn’t accumulate on your rack or floor.
Give Each Child a Designated Drop Zone
It’s easier for kids to stay organized when they have their own dedicated spaces to hang up jackets, set down backpacks, put shoes and store everyday essentials. Provide each child with their own coat hooks, cubbies, bins or lockers. Build them at kid-friendly heights and make it fun by letting everyone decorate their own zone.
Have Options Ready for Bad Weather
With a little advanced planning, you can prevent your mudroom from living up to its name. Set up a rainy-day corner with an umbrella stand, boot tray, towel basket and hooks or racks to hang damp outerwear. Keep a laundry hamper in the mudroom, too, so wet clothes and dirty uniforms don’t migrate through the house.
Label Storage Areas Clearly
Nearly everyone’s been there: you start a new organization system feeling efficient and optimistic, then over time, memories lapse and it descends back into anarchy. Labels may not stop this from happening every time, but at least they might make kids stop and consider whether their books should go in the basket labeled “Books” or on top of the shoe rack. That’s one step closer to restoring order.
For more back-to-school tips and tricks, visit eLivingToday.com.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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