- checking login information
Loading...6 Ways to Bring Back Family Meals (Video)
- Nourishlife.org
- June 29, 2011
- 6:01 am
- 16 comments
- 2 of 2
- back to page 1
Share the Table
Family mealtime is a great way to check in with your loved ones over good food, and create memories to last a lifetime. Here are some ways to ensure a healthy, enjoyable family meal:
- Eat real. Save money by avoiding takeout and drive-thrus. Instead, create a healthy, home-cooked menu that everyone can enjoy together. Give children a voice by including them in the meal planning process. Use mealtime as an opportunity to instill and practice healthy eating habits.
- Expand their palates. Studies have shown the children who share dinner with their families eat more fruits and veggies and less junk food. Visit a farmers market with your kids and pick out new, seasonal foods to try together. Introduce new foods at the dinner table.
- Involve the whole family. From shopping and cooking to table setting and cleanup, make sure everyone has a role in the process. Assigning responsibilities engages children and helps them feel more invested in the results. Discover more ideas for cooking together.
- Tune in. Dinner is a time to be present for each other. Turn off the TV, put away cell phones, and tune out any other distractions.
- Relax and connect. In our busy lives, we may have few moments to slow down and enjoy our family’s company. Make dinner your daily opportunity to catch up, share news and stories, and laugh together.
- Celebrate. Honor mealtime as a ritual that is shared with those you love. Whether it’s a holiday, birthday, or weeknight dinner, every meal can be an occasion to create traditions around good food and community.
Dr. Burke and author Michael Pollan discuss the evolution and importance of the family meal in Nourish Perspectives.
Resources
Discover ways to connect with your kids one meal at a time at Laurie David’s The Family Dinner. Parent Earth offers great food and cooking videos for parents and kids. Foodily is an online recipe network that helps you find healthy recipes.
Related:
Creating Community in the Kitchen
4 Tips: Making Family Meals Fun (video)
In Defense of Family Dinner
- 2 of 2
- back to page 1
Read more: Children, Diet & Nutrition, Eating for Health, Family, Food, General Health, Health, Mental Wellness, Other Holidays, Smart Shopping, Teens, Videos, Videos, Videos, Videos, Children, dinner, Family Life, family time, food, health, kids, parenting, relationships, teens
Nourishlife.org
Nourish is an educational initiative designed to open a meaningful conversation about food and sustainability, particularly in schools and communities. To inform and inspire the largest number of people, Nourish combines PBS television, curriculum resources, web content, short films, and teacher and youth seminars. Nourish is a program of WorldLink, a nonprofit organization dedicated to education for sustainability.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
people are talking
Thank you for tips.
Such a refreshing perspective. Thank you!
good advice - they don't come from good environments. give a home to an animal that truly needs one…
What a precious, young soul!
Great ideas thanks :-)
16 comments
+ add your ownNice tips for everyone.
Thanks.
Couldn't agree more!
thanks
Good read.
I've always hated family meals. They are a torture!
It would be easier to have family meals if there were more intact families...most kids alas, these days are in families that are broken and blended and ruined by stepfamily drama.
thanks for the article.
Imagine that, and what do you think that group of strangers would have to say to one another, "i sure miss McBarfs", "if you really loved me, you would take me to Taco Smells", "my real dad lets me have whatever i want".
Is a lost war actually worth fighting for.
Thank you for the article.
login to add your comment
use your care2 login
add your comment