Eating meals at home and together as a family seems to be a dying past-time for many households. This is unfortunate because it deprives families of together time and leads to many unhealthy food choices. There are many great benefits of eating dinners with the family but here are just a few:
- When you cook and serve meals at home, you have more control over the quality and quantity of your family’s food choices. Use family meal time as an opportunity to teach your kids about the importance of whole grains and fruits and vegetables.
- Kids who take part in regular family meals are more likely to eat fruits, vegetables and grains including whole grains. They are less likely to snack on unhealthy foods and less likely to smoke, use marijuana or drink alcohol. They tend to do better in school and tend to be happier with their present life and prospects for the future.
- Teens many not like the idea of eating together with the family but many studies have shown that frequent family dinners have more positive behaviors. They are less likely to get into fights, think about suicide, smoke, drink, use drugs, are more likely to have later initiation of sexual activity and have better academic performance than teens who do not.
- Family meals offer the chance to introduce your child to new foods and to act as a role model for healthy eating.
With October as National Eat Better; Eat Together Month, I challenge you to eat more of your meals at home with your family. Whether the meal is quick and easy or more elaborate, make it nutritious and make it fun.
What healthy dinner ideas would you like to share?
