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As we kick off March with National Nutrition Month, we are always striving to find more ways to eat together as a family without the arguments.
Here are some tips on how to enjoy meals by minimizing the stress.
- Make Regularly Schedule Meals a Priority – this doesn’t have to be at dinnertime or every night as we are all busy with after school activities and work. Schedule at least one meal a week together.
- Model the Habits You Want Children to Develop – Young children do not automatically know how to eat like adults. They learn how to behave at the table by watching their most important role model, you, for developing lifelong, healthy eating habits. Family style – Dishes are passed around the table and letting them serve themselves without forcing anyone to eat it by pre-serving their dishes. This way, they feel more in control and relaxed.
- Have everyone help – Divide all the cooking and prep work to each family member so they too can feel like they have been involved in cooking the meal. This could also work by having them help with the actual grocery shopping or make it a fun adventure by going to the farmer’s market together.
- Recipe planning – Allow each family member a day to pick the menu for the meal and have them share it with the family or make it a surprise.
References:
https://www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/eating-as-a-family/end-mealtime-battles
