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Mealtimes, More than Nutrition
Mealtime includes more than just consuming food. It provides time for us to share ideas, build communication skills, and grow closer as a family. Research shows that eating together as a family is one indicator of a child’s success in school and beyond. Make one family mealtime in a day a priority. This can be breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Create a simple routine for this meal that fits your schedule, but be flexible. Involve your child in the different tasks of planning and preparing the meal and getting it to the table. Give children interesting and important jobs like choosing today’s vegetable, peeling carrots, and mashing potatoes, rather than always setting or clearing the table. Show your children that family mealtime is valued by eliminating distractions such as television and video, let the phone calls go to voice mail. Relax and slow the pace of the meal by adding ambience such as flowers or candles allowing plenty of time to eat and interact. Prolong mealtime by adding a light dessert of fresh fruit, gelatin, custards, fruit ices, or pudding. Small changes introduced slowly work best. Your efforts will build healthy habits, healthy children, and many heartwarming family memories.
Mary Kolle, TCAPS School Readiness Coordinator
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Do you have trouble trying to decide on the dinner menu? If so, then this program may be just what you need:Dine Without Whine – A Weekly Menu Plan & Grocery List Delivered To Your E-mail Box
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