Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Making family count...at mealtime

Doing more activities as a family is a goal that is often on every mother's mind.  Some people prefer to leave the home to find something interesting to do, and some like to be together in the backyard.  Activities for my family are usually at home because we are very budget conscious and would also rather night fight a cranky baby away from home. 

Parents spending time with their children open up a lot of psychological benefits for the children as well as the parents.  Communication and closeness are enhanced as they interact and build trust and love together.

Meal time is promoted as one of the most important family times with many benefits.  According to WebMD, "When families dine together, they tend to eat more vegetables and fruits -- and fewer fried foods, soda, and foods with trans fats, research shows. When younger kids frequently eat dinner with their families, they are less likely to be overweight than other children. That tends to change in the teenage years, when they're less likely to eat at home."  Makes sense to me.

More benefits of eating together, according to eat better eat together are communication, better school performance, better adjustment, and better nutrition.  There can be negative results to eating together, however, when parents cannot get along or are too controlling during mealtime.  This can lead to guilt, stress, and uncertainty about food and meals for the children who, eventually, become adults.

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