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NIBBLES FOR HEALTH 8 Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children, USDA, Food and Nutrition Service
Enjoying The Family Meal
Family meals are important. You create close bonds and
lifelong memories around the family table. Family
meals can teach your child about healthful eating.
You just need to be a good role model. When
you try new foods your child may be more
adventurous with food, too.
• Set a regular family mealtime. Regular
mealtimes give your child a better chance to eat
a variety of foods to get the right amount to
grow, stay healthy, and keep a healthy weight.
• Make it simple, make it quick! Spend
less time in the kitchen and more time at the
family table. Simple meals, even cold
sandwiches, taste as good as meals that take
more work. You can make any meal special if
you all feel relaxed and if mealtime is filled with
caring and laughter. Simplify – to take care of
you, too!
• Show that family meals are
important. During mealtime, turn off the TV.
Find another way to see favorite shows. Let the
answering machine take your phone calls, too.
Have your family make calls before or after the
meal hour. Show that same respect for other
families when you make phone calls.
• Eat around a table. It’s easier to talk and
listen to your family when you face each other.
Eating side-by-side at the kitchen counter takes
away eye contact.
• Enjoy meal talk. Make easy conversations –
no nagging or complaining. Talk so everyone
can be a “star” at mealtime. Don’t take over.
Your child will listen and learn by feeling
included.
• Be realistic about mealtime. Try to sit
down together. Keep meals from lasting too
long. If kids get fussy, your family meal won’t be
fun. Wait until everyone is done to be excused.
Try these easy ways to make
family meals a pleasant part
of your family routine.
NIBBLES FOR HEALTH 8 Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children, USDA, Food and Nutrition Service
Enjoying The Family Meal
Does it seem impossible to fit family
meals into your hectic schedule? Go step
by step.