Family Food Rules from Melora Hardin (Video)

Melora Hardin, from “The Office,” plays the hysterical character Jan Levenson, but she is serious about healthy food for her two young girls. She wants mealtime to be fun and not a place for negotiation and power struggles. This is easier said than done. Through trial and error she figured out what works for her family. She and her husband, Gildart Jackson, have a few simple strategies based on the basic idea of never saying “eat one more bite and you can have dessert.” Parent Earth interviewed Melora and filmed her family’s breakfast to see how she does it.

Melora says that it was hard making the change, but that with patience and persistence she made it work, “the kids really took to it.” Her goal is for her kids to listen to their own bodies and make healthy choices for themselves. It requires a lot of talking with your children and in the video she shares handy phrases any parent can use.

Melora Hardin’s Family Food Rules:
• Desserts are only served on the weekend
• The kitchen is always stocked with fresh fruits that the kids can eat anytime
• Kids decide when they are done eating and when they are full
• Dessert comes after dinner
• Special occasions, like birthdays, are exceptions to the rule
• Kids get involved in the kitchen and make cooking fun

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Michele W.

8:19AM PST on Mar 2, 2012

Thank you

send a green star

Jennifer C.

4:19PM PST on Jan 19, 2012

Thank you.

Lynn C.

8:55PM PST on Dec 30, 2011

Now t h a t is great parenting!

Robert O.

11:10AM PDT on Apr 26, 2011

Thanks.

KS G.

5:49AM PDT on Apr 26, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Ann L.

8:03PM PST on Mar 1, 2011

Thanks for the post. No sugar after 5pm in my daughters hous, or you can not get the boys to bed. Hyperactive!

6:42AM PST on Feb 23, 2011

just cooking up some points for the animals ...

Deborah H.

7:02AM PST on Feb 22, 2011

I love her approach, but even dessert on the weekend after dinner for my 3 year old will keep him awake (either sugar or if it contains chocolate , then caffeine). So we do a dessert after lunch or as a family treat at snack time instead.

Eileen Mary P.

11:14AM PST on Feb 19, 2011

Thanks. Good advice.

Quanta K.

8:09AM PST on Feb 19, 2011

noted.