The Benefits of Eating Together The Family Who Eats Together Stays Together -- By Becky Hand, Licensed & Registered Dietician SparkPeople Here are 8 more reasons why you should try to sit down together 5-6 times a week, whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Reason #1: Communication and Well-Being Conversations during the meal provide opportunities for the family to bond, plan, connect, and learn from one another. It’s a chance to share information and news of the day, as well as give extra attention to your children and teens. Family meals foster warmth, security and love, as well as feelings of belonging. It can be a unifying experience for all. Reason #2: Model Manners (and more) Family mealtime is the perfect opportunity to display appropriate table manners, meal etiquette, and social skills. Keep the mood light, relaxed, and loving. Try not to instruct or criticize—lead by example. Reason # 3: Expand Their World…One Food at a Time Encourage your children to try new foods, without forcing, coercing, or bribing. Introduce a new food along with some of the stand-by favorites. Remember that it can take 8-10 exposures to a new food before it is accepted, so be patient. Trying a new food is like starting a new hobby. It expands your child’s knowledge, experience, and skill. Include foods from other cultures and countries. Select a new vegetable from a local farmer’s market. Have your child select a new recipe from a cookbook, web site, newspaper, magazine or check out the recipes on SparkPeople. Reason #4: Nourish Meals prepared and eaten at home are usually more nutritious and healthy. They contain more fruits, vegetables, and dairy products along with additional nutrients such as fiber, calcium, vitamins A and C, and folate. Home cooked meals are usually not fried or highly salted, plus soda and sweetened beverage consumption is usually lower at the dinner table. Continued ›
Posted on: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 18:37:23 +0000
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