Why You Should Always Have A Family Pizza Night

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As a parent, it's your responsibility to decide what to have for dinner each night. Maybe you're focused on eating healthy or finding simple recipes that you can whip together quickly. Regardless of your mealtime goals, you shouldn't skip family pizza night. A study conducted by Harris Poll showed that pizza is America's number one comfort food choice. Pizza beat chocolate, ice cream, hamburgers and mac and cheese. Yet honestly, is it a surprise? With the ability to combine so many tastes, textures and toppings into one food category, who can resist a slice of their favorite pizza?

Keep reading to discover five reasons why you should always have a family pizza night.

1. Spend Time With Family

The title gives away the main reason why you should always have a family pizza night — because you get to spend time with your family! Between basketball practice, music recitals and playtime after school, it can be challenging to find a quiet moment to be together. Pizza night offers you that time to gather around and catch up with your children and spouse.

Socializing as a family is important because it encourages communication and promotes bonding. When your children feel comfortable conversing, they are more likely to reach out to you if they're struggling with something. Children who spend more time with their parents typically have higher self-esteem, better academic performance and develop positive behavior.

2. Save Money

Having pizza for dinner can be a great way to save money. The ingredients used to make homemade pizza are inexpensive, and even store-bought or restaurant-quality pizzas can be a low-cost alternative to conventional meals.

Family pizza night can help you set aside money for more expensive dinners or events. It also offers you the opportunity to instruct your youngsters on the importance of budgeting and making affordable dishes. While some parents feel uncomfortable talking to their kids about finances, you will have the opportunity to teach in an unobtrusive way that will prepare them for adult life.

3. Get Creative

Making pizza offers the opportunity to get creative as a family. Search your refrigerator for leftover dishes that you can turn into toppings. You can rest easy knowing your homemade pizza is free from preservatives and packed with beneficial nutrients.

Your children will also enjoy the opportunity to make their own baked creations. You can turn the evening into an educational experience so that your kids become pizza-making pros and learn the value of not letting food go to waste. Instilling a joy of learning in your young ones will make them more resilient and adaptable in the future.

Experimenting as you cook can lead to fun new recipes that will bring your family closer together. You can also try making dessert styled pizzas using chocolate and fresh fruit. Just don't be shocked if your kids eat so much they want to take a nap — home-cooked meals often have that effect on people.

4. Support Local Businesses

If you would rather enjoy a pizza from a professional restaurant, look for artisan wood-fired pizzas. This method cooks the dough much faster than an electric oven because it heats to a higher internal temperature. As a result, your meal will arrive sooner, and the toppings will retain the greatest number of nutrients. A longer cooking period depletes the dish of beneficial vitamins and minerals present in the toppings before baking.

Wood-fired pizzas are traditional in Italy, so you'll be experiencing a more authentic meal. They are becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. because of the distinct smoky flavor and crispy crust. If possible, ask for a seat near the ovens so that you can watch the pizzas being prepared.

5. Stress Less

Family pizza night means you have one less meal to plan for the week. Instead, you can focus on enjoying the meal with your family and making the most of your hours after work. While stress is a normal part of life, having a standard meal will keep things simple, which helps you relax. Too much stress can lead to a weakened immune system, depression and fatigue. It can also affect your behavior leading to angry outbursts, restlessness and a lack of motivation.

Having hobbies, like cooking and spending time with family and friends, can help you manage your stress and feel more involved.

Other ways to manage stress that you can incorporate into pizza night include:

·      Practicing relaxation techniques.

·      Listing things you are grateful for.

·      Keeping a sense of humor and remembering to laugh.

Make Pizza Nights a Party

Transform your standard pizza night into a party for the family. Watch a movie or dedicate that evening to playing games. Creating a little party out of a casual event will make it a more memorable and exciting experience for your children. You can include just your core family members or also invite friends  — the crucial thing is that you teach your kids that family pizza night is a tradition you plan to keep.