Dinner Hour Power

by: AndreaDow
Total views: 746
Word Count: 492

Sunday, January 7th

One of the biggest challenges my husband and I face (along with millions of other Americans) is sitting down to eat dinner together. With late working hours and traveling out-of-town, we cherish the time we do get to spend together. Parents with kids struggle with after-school and athletic activities that usually run smack in the middle of the dinner hour. National surveys suggest that only 1/3 of Americans eat dinner together. Half the battle is being home together around dinner time, and the other half is having something ready to go or a meal requiring little prep.

Is it really that important to have dinner together as a family? Yes!! Joyce Hendley, writer for EatingWell Magazine, notes that kids who had dinner with their families (seven or more times a week) had higher grades, were less likely to be depressed, smoke cigarettes or use alcohol and were better adjusted than kids eating just two meals per week with their family. Kids eating with their families also made healthier food choices and had lowered risks of disordered eating (especially among girls). Parents play an important role by demonstrating proper eating during meals. Mealtime is critical for connecting so look for ways to make the meal fun with a family game, allow kids to help prepare the food and keep conflicts to a minimum.

To tackle the actual meal preparation, here are a few ideas:

1. Hire a personal chef. It sounds extravagant, but may be worth every penny to have someone shop for you, cook in your home, clean up and leave all the instructions you need to get a healthy meal on the table fast. This is also great for people with special dietary needs.

2. If you like to cook, try carving out time during the weekend to make meals for the week. You can cook some staples to have on hand like chicken breasts, rice, pasta, grilled vegetables, etc.

3. Check out one of several dinner preparation locations where you can sign up for the meals you would like to make. Staffers will have all the ingredients laid out and you just grab, make and go! No dishes to clean up afterwards, either! www.dinnersbydesign.com or www.dinnersolutions.com.

4. Get the whole family involved. Let kids help with grocery shopping, gardening, meal preparation and meal selection. Think about trying themed days of the week...Wednesday sounds like a good night for a little mid-week fiesta and tacos! Everyone will look forward to the new family tradition.

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