Reason # 3:
#3
Expand Their World…One Food at a Time
Encourage your children to try new foods, without forcing, coercing, or bribing. Introduce a new food
along with some of the stand-by favorites. Remember that it can take 8-10 exposures to a new food before it is accepted, so be patient. Trying a new food is like starting a new hobby. It expands your child’s
knowledge, experience, and skill.
• Include foods from other cultures and countries.
• Select a new vegetable from a local farmer’s market.
• Have your child select a new recipe from a cookbook, web site, newspaper, magazine or check out
the recipes on SparkPeople.com.
Reason #4:
#4
Nourish
Meals prepared and eaten at home are usually more nutritious and healthy. They contain more fruits,
vegetables, and dairy products along with additional nutrients such as fiber, calcium, vitamins A and C,
and folate. Home cooked meals are usually not fried or highly salted, plus soda and sweetened beverage
consumption is usually lower at the dinner table.
Reason #5
#5
Reason #6:
Become Self-Sufficient
Children today are missing out on the importance of knowing
how to plan and prepare meals. Basic cooking, baking, and
food preparation are necessities for being self-sufficient. Involve your family in menu planning, grocery shopping, and
food preparation. Preschoolers can tear lettuce, cut bananas,
and set the table. Older children can pour milk, peel vegetables,
and mix batter. Teenagers can dice, chop, bake, and grill. Working as a team puts the meal on the table faster, as well as makes
everyone more responsible and accepting of the outcome. Improved eating habits come with "ownership" of a meal.
Prevent Destructive Behaviors
#6
Research shows that frequent family dinners (five or more a week), are associated with lower rates of
smoking, drinking, and illegal drug use in pre-teens and teenagers when compared to families that
eat together two or fewer times per week. Even as older children’s schedules get more complicated, it
is important to make an effort to eat meals together. Scheduling is a must.
Reason #7:
Improve Grades
#7
Children do better in school when they eat more meals with their parents and family. Teenagers who
eat dinner four or more times per week with their families have higher academic performance compared with teenagers who eat with their families two or fewer times per week.