subject: Family Dining Is An Important Tradition [print this page] Eating with the family used to be an American tradition. Having dinner every night at a set time was a staple in the American home. Most people took it for granted because it was the normal thing to do. Now, most people agree, that it's a rare occasion that we eat family meals together. Family dining is almost an oddity instead of something that's normal. Our lives have become so busy, with work, school and outside activities that we meet each other coming and going. No one seems to have time to eat together as a family. It's now, a tradition that has become less important.
Family dining is important, though. Studies show that families that eat at least five or more meals a week together had a healthier diet. They consumed more vitamins, vegetables and fruits. It also showed that the more kids ate with their parents the less likely they were to engage in teen sex or smoking or illegal drugs. Teens that had regular family meals did better in school, had a higher self-esteem and adopted a healthier lifestyle. Eating with the family promotes positive family interaction, bonding and social skills.
Family meals don't have to be limited to just dinner. Having breakfast or lunch together is also important for bonding. Family dining can be an easy tradition to create. Start by picking times that the whole family is available to be together. You can make a menu that everyone agrees on or each person can be responsible for planning a day. Make sure that the menu is simple and healthy. Shop for the items on your list and add a few things that are quick to throw together. Everyone should be involved in making meals, whether you've chosen steaks or soup and sandwiches. Each person should be able to help.
During really busy times, you can choose to eat at a restaurant. Family dining at a restaurant should be included in your time together. Most restaurants have healthy food on their menus, so making the right choices shouldn't be a problem. Spending time as a family and finding out about each other's day is one of the best reasons to adopt the tradition of eating as a family. Showing your children that you want to learn about their daily lives can open the door for bigger subjects. It's one of the most important traditions you can create and can be one of the easiest.
by: Cheow Yu Yuan
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