Family Dinners Shown To Provide Health Benefits
Family meals may seem like a thing of the past, however; research studies are finding that families that sit down together for dinner have better nutrient intake and a decreased likeliness towards obesity.
Consider your lifestyle- picking up the kids from school and dropping them off at soccer practice, maybe a late night meeting. With our fast paced lives, and more working moms, it seems almost impossible to sit down for a family dinner every night of the week.
It is possible, and it is shown to be beneficial. A study based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN was conducted on student’s ages 11-18 years. Researchers found that children, who had a higher frequency of family dinners, received better nutrition. There was an increased intake of fruits, vegetables, grains, and calcium-rich foods.
Sitting down together promotes a healthy attitude towards nutrition-especially if the parents use dinnertime to explain health benefits of certain foods. Educating children at a young age instills good habits for later in life. Parents also have the opportunity to observe how much their children are eating, and encourage them to try new foods.
There is no excuse not to create time for a sit-down dinner. It doesn’t have to be a thing of the past. Set a time that works for everyone-even if it means making some sacrifices. Utilize dinnertime to bond with your kids and to educate them about the importance of nutrition.
For nutrition information, visit websites such as www.eatright.org, www.mypyramid.org, or www.dole5aday.com. Use the information you find to share with your kids at dinnertime. Explain what vitamins and minerals are in broccoli. Let them know why calcium, which is found in milk, is important for their bones.
If you are limited on time, try quick and easy recipes. You can visit these websites for free recipes: www.razzledazzlerecipes.com, www.allrecipes.com. If you want your kids to try new foods and learn about different cultures, but still want to save time visit this website: www.yummyfood.net.
The most important thing to remember is to have fun! Get your kids involved with cooking, and enjoy your families company during dinnertime.
Consider your lifestyle- picking up the kids from school and dropping them off at soccer practice, maybe a late night meeting. With our fast paced lives, and more working moms, it seems almost impossible to sit down for a family dinner every night of the week.
It is possible, and it is shown to be beneficial. A study based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN was conducted on student’s ages 11-18 years. Researchers found that children, who had a higher frequency of family dinners, received better nutrition. There was an increased intake of fruits, vegetables, grains, and calcium-rich foods.
Sitting down together promotes a healthy attitude towards nutrition-especially if the parents use dinnertime to explain health benefits of certain foods. Educating children at a young age instills good habits for later in life. Parents also have the opportunity to observe how much their children are eating, and encourage them to try new foods.
There is no excuse not to create time for a sit-down dinner. It doesn’t have to be a thing of the past. Set a time that works for everyone-even if it means making some sacrifices. Utilize dinnertime to bond with your kids and to educate them about the importance of nutrition.
For nutrition information, visit websites such as www.eatright.org, www.mypyramid.org, or www.dole5aday.com. Use the information you find to share with your kids at dinnertime. Explain what vitamins and minerals are in broccoli. Let them know why calcium, which is found in milk, is important for their bones.
If you are limited on time, try quick and easy recipes. You can visit these websites for free recipes: www.razzledazzlerecipes.com, www.allrecipes.com. If you want your kids to try new foods and learn about different cultures, but still want to save time visit this website: www.yummyfood.net.
The most important thing to remember is to have fun! Get your kids involved with cooking, and enjoy your families company during dinnertime.
posted by Margie Geiser, MBA, RD, NSCA-CPT at
6:21 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home