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‘ROUND! Gather
BRING BACK THE FAMILY MEAL By Debra Weintraub, RN, CPNP
F
amily meals provide comfort, sup- port and consistency for children.
Many family traditions are memorable for the large gathering of relatives and food — and all the wonderful smells, tastes and laughter. Regard- less of your family’s makeup, parents, siblings, grandparents, guardians and extended family can all make a differ- ence in your children’s lives. It is well known that sitting down to- gether for a meal at least a few times a week helps to promote communica- tion, reconnect with one another and create a relaxing, fun atmosphere. It can also be an opportunity for parents and other family leaders to instill values and attitudes in their kids at a time when peers are becom- ing more important to them. Also, when families eat at home, the foods tends to be healthier than takeout or meals quickly grabbed at a fast-food restaurant. For busy families, meals can be
a very stressful time. Finicky eating, busy work schedules and sports or other after-school activities can con- tribute to a hectic evening schedule. You can alleviate some of the
stress by encouraging your kids to be involved in the planning of meals, with an emphasis on healthy choices that are within the cultural framework
of your family. Letting children help to plan, shop for and cook meals — including foods that they don’t usually want to eat — can go a long way toward getting them to try new things. If kids have some ownership of the meal, they might be more inclined to eat new or disliked items. Consider introducing ethnic foods and discuss- ing their related traditions to make interesting family conversation at the dinner table. Children and teens who eat with
family members can benefit in terms of higher self-esteem, less incidence of depression and positive relation- ship development.
Introduce Family-Centered Meals Encourage family participation and focus on one another.
* Sit down all together for a family meeting.
* Chart everyone’s work, school and activity schedule, and make dates for
family meals. This can mean breakfast or lunch, as well as dinner.
* Plan a special menu together for those meals. Keep your kids involved.
* Decide who will shop for the food, help with preparation, set the table,
clean up afterward, etc. * During dinner, shut off the TV. This 21
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