Family Meals: A Recipe for Good Health
Gather as a family and dish up conversation along with food. Making family meals a daily habit that children look forward to helps them develop healthier attitudes about food and resist destructive weight-loss behaviors.
Keep mealtimes interesting by starting with a joke or ending with a riddle or brainteaser to solve by the next meal. At dinner, have everyone share a story of something that went well or not so well that day. This routine helps build stronger family relationships and foster healthy child development.
Although all of your children can benefit from family meals together, the effect on girls can be especially dramatic. According to a recent study of almost 4,800 teens, those whose families placed a high priority on group meals were least likely to suffer unhealthy eating behaviors. Teen girls who joined their families for at least five meals a week were 75% less likely to resort to extreme weight-loss efforts.
To maximize family dining opportunities, be creative. Plan family meals to avoid schedule conflicts. If your children's after-school activities won't allow for family dinners, gather for breakfast instead. Order out once a week, or plan and cook special meals together. Turn off the television and take time to discuss issues in depth. Although it is important to encourage family members to speak freely, avoiding arguments at the table will keep mealtimes positive and enjoyable for everyone.
