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- balanced mealsResearch suggests that skipping certain meals, particularly breakfast, can lead to weight gain. It's important for school aged children to eat three meals a day. One to two healthy snacks a day is also important so children can fuel between meals and get essential vitamins for their growing needs.
Parents and children can each have a role in making healthy family meal choices. Parents decide which foods to buy, determine when and how foods are prepared, and make snacks available - while children decide "how much" and "if" to eat at all.
Click here for ideas you can do together as a family to support everyone in eating healthier.
Plan and track family meals on a chart. Reward the entire family with a special meal or active outing when you meet your weekly goal.
Make Family Meals a Priority
The family meal is a time to build and share family values. Family meals also have a significant positive impact on the nutrition quality of children's diets - increased consumption of fruits, vegetables and milk and less fried foods and soft drinks. In addition to better nutrition, family meals provide for more control over the types of foods eaten, less weight gain for the whole family, and a sense of "family connectedness."
Use these resources and tools to help your family enjoy more mealtimes together.
Five Fun Ways to Enrich Family Mealtimes
Five Easy Ways to Enjoy Mealtime Conversations
Tips for Healthy Eating when Eating Out
Meal Planning/Shopping List
Healthy Family Recipes
