Family Meals
Eating family meals is a part of healthy eating. With today’s busy schedules it can be hard to eat meals together, but it’s worth it.
Benefits of Family Meals
People of all ages eat better when they share a meal with others. They tend to eat more fruits and vegetables, other nutrient-rich foods and less fried foods, sweets, salty snacks and pop.- Eating together gives young children the chance to learn more words and how to communicate better.
- Family meals are also a chance to pass along family traditions and help keep families connected.
Tips for Family Meals
- Be a positive role model and help your children learn about healthy foods and forming good eating habits. Try not to focus on what or how much your kids are eating.
- Eat together as a family as much as you can; make a plan to eat around family members’ schedules.
- Involve your family in choosing and preparing the meal; this increases the chance that they’ll eat it.
- Let your children help with meal planning and food preparation; this can help them develop important skills and learn about food safety.
- Put away toys, phones, screens and other distractions.
- Use food as a conversation starter. You can talk about how food is grown or the role food plays in culture and food traditions.
Meals can bring families together and food is most enjoyable when shared with others. Plus, by eating together, your family’s physical and mental well-being benefits.
Services related to this information:
- Contact your Public Health Nurse:
- 811 Dial-a-Dietitian (Newfoundland & Labrador) – Call 811 or 1-888-709-2929 / TTY 1-888-709-3555