Making the Most of Meals with Your Child

Whether it’s the holiday season for you and your family, or not, it’s so very important to make the most of meal-times with your child and the rest of your family

The most important part of any meal is not the main course! And, It’s not about any items or gifts you may receive or exchange with others!

Then, what’s it all about?

The most important part of meal-time, be it a holiday meal or otherwise, is making the most of your time together, with your child, members of your family, or your friends and others in your community! Sharing a meal with others provides an opportunity to strengthen bonds and create lasting memories – it is a time to share and even celebrate.

Most importantly, time spent around a meal has significant benefits for your child’s health, because it can:
• Develop and improve their self-esteem
• Increase their consumption of fruits, vegetables, and other foods - to improve their health
• Encourage them to enjoy a wider variety of foods
• Reduce the risk for developing eating disorders
• Lead to improved performance at school or at work
• Aid them with the development of their social skills

Recent research suggests that more than 80 percent of children and young adults actually prefer to eat together as a family rather than alone.

How can you make the most of your time together during the holidays or throughout the rest of the year?
• Turn off the TV and radio during meal-times
• Eat together at the table – talking to each other is easier if you’re facing each other
• Include everyone in conversations and keep conversation on a positive tone
• Ask everyone to turn off cell phones and other communication devices during the meal