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

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Val M.

2:19AM PDT on May 11, 2013

Thanks

May 11
send a green star

Aud N.

2:31AM PST on Feb 18, 2013

thanks

February 18
send a green star

Teresa W.

7:48AM PST on Jan 2, 2013

Great parenting? She seems to be a fanatic...

January 2
send a green star

7:47AM PST on Jan 2, 2013

Poor kids.

Lynn C.

7:45AM PST on Jan 2, 2013

Very good teaching... I am from the generation that was constantly told, clean your plate there are children starving... I have battled my weight all my life... so I never made me children eat when they said they were full, but did what this gal did, told them they could be done but not to come back in an hour claiming to be hungry... neither of my daughters have a problem with their weight... it just makes sense... thanks... =)

JL A.

8:24AM PDT on Jun 28, 2012

good tips