We all know it. Getting the entire family to agree on one dinner is sometimes exhausting!
In this guest post, Hy-Vee Registered Dietitian, Erin Good, shares why uniting the entire family around the dinner table still matters:
Big Benefits of Family Meals
· Eating together as a family can be tricky with busy schedules and late night sports, but even a few nights a week around the dinner table can provide priceless benefits:
o Less likely to become overweight or obese
o Lower risk of substance abuse, depression and eating disorders in children
o Increase intake of fruits and vegetables (*Remember: If you don’t want picky kids, try not to be picky yourselves. That includes eating your serving of veggies, too!)
· Teens who eat regular family meals are more likely to be emotionally strong, have better mental health, manners and communications skills.
All together now!
· Give everyone a role. More family member involvement = greater success in trying new foods/flavors!
· Get the kids involved and divvy up meal prep tasks based on your children’s ages and abilities.
· Teens/adults can kick off table talk each night with one of these simple conversation starters:
o If you could only eat ONE food for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
o What is something you want to learn to do and why?
o School small talk: If you could teach any school subject, real or pretend, what would it be?
Bottom Line: By taking the time to share meals with our loved ones, we can nourish our bodies, build stronger relationships, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Hear Erin talk with Jeff about her top three family meal must-haves HERE: