Families that Eat Together, Stay Healthy Together

.Research shows that eating family meals together helps kids to develop a lifetime of good eating habits

It’s dinnertime and your family is all over the place. With so many commitments, it can be a challenge for families to eat together. Yet, research shows that eating family meals together helps kids to develop a lifetime of good eating habits.

Try these tips to bring everyone to the table:

Make a family date. Plan meals around the family calendar. Find days that fit your schedule – it doesn’t need to be every day or every meal.

Ask for help. Get each family member’s suggestions on what to serve and their help in preparing the food and the table. Young family members can help fold napkins, place silverware or even toss the salad. Older kids can help prepare and cleanup. Spouses can perform chopping duties or load the dishwasher.

Enjoy the time together. Forget everything else on your agenda and focus on having fun together. Take the time to learn about your kids’ day and what’s on their minds. Encourage good table manners, but try not to make them an issue or cause tension. It’s more important to appreciate one another’s company and your time together.