What parent doesn’t want their kid to eat a more nutritious diet, have a healthy body weight, excel in school, stay clear of behavior problems and be less likely to develop eating disorders? Studies show that frequent family meals are associated with all these desirable outcomes.
Researchers are still trying to figure out what it is about family meals. Is it the food, good nutrition, family togetherness or the structure? While it is probably a combination of these things, one thing is for sure: the family meal is a powerful tool in raising healthy eaters.
Welcome to part 3 of our Eating Disorder Prevention series. Last time we talked about raising children who have a healthy body image. Now we’re going to focus on helping kids develop a healthy relationship with food.
In addition to having regular meals together as a family, there are specific things parents can do to make this ritual more positive and enjoyable. Let’s take a look… (more…)
What an excellent article!
Your point about the parenting style is right on. It is also important to consider the parenting style of both parents. When it comes to “connecting” with kids, whether on the dinner table or otherwise, both parents need to be on the same page. When their parenting styles are far apart, they need to have a game plan so their differences do not create a conflict and confusion for children.
Here is an article I wrote which goes in detail of parenting styles, pros and cons of each, and how to address differences.
http://bit.ly/awSbTy
Thanks for comment and link to your article. Really helpful information! It’s very important for parents to get on the same page.
Wow! This is terrific info.! I am a huge proponent of eating meals together and thankfully our lifestyle (and the choices we make in our schedules!) allows us to do that. I have breakfast with my kids every day (no plopping them at the table while I do other things) and lunch every day that they are home from school/preschool. Dinners are ALWAYS together unless my husband has to work late which is rare (thankfully) or someone has a sleepover at friend’s house (again, not the norm). We just move up or down our dinner time so that we can accomodate after school activities, playdates, etc.. It is really not that hard especially if you plan your meals. 🙂
I was planning to do a post about the importance of eating meals together on my own blog and you have found the words beautifully. I’ll let you know when I get something there if you like.