• Get the kids involved : From meal planning , to writing a grocery list , to shopping , to meal making ; there are small jobs that children can claim for themselves to feel that they are a part of the family ’ s need to cook and eat together . The more that they can be in charge of something , be it
family nourishment
Making Meals and Sharing Food as an Act of Love
| by Dr . Melanie Everett , ND
When we sit down to eat together in a family setting , we are opening ourselves to more than just a moment of balanced nutrition and a healthy serving of food groups . We come together and dine to receive nourishment ; to fill our cup with community , energy , relationship , shared experience and connection , as well as fuel in the form of food . Learning how to offer this experience and reverence for eating well to our children is fundamental for their establishment of a lifelong healthy relationship with food .
Creating community and engagement around healthy eating and meal making takes practice , though . If you are not familiar with how to shop for , eat and prepare food that nourishes your whole family , it can feel like an overwhelming task . Often , the expectation of greatness can be enough to forfeit the work put into homemade meals and as a result , we may choose convenience over homemade options .
With the high prevalence of preventable diseases increasing in this country and the decreased time allotted for physical activity in public schools , couple with the heavy reliance on screen use and cars for transportation , there is now even more of an incentive to educate our children about health and nutrition . We parents need to model healthy food options in the home to help set our children up for a future as healthy adults who choose well at the market , in the kitchen and on the plate .
As a Naturopathic Physician , I am always eager to expose my kids to a whole-foods , nutrient-rich diet , particularly emphasizing anti-inflammatory food choices and lots of fresh plant foods . As a mom of 3 young children , however , I often feel that I fall short of what I would hope to provide for my children in the form of healthy , home made meals . I experience my personal balance to be a blend of the two ; a reconciling of the ideal and reality , if you will . I think every mom can strike her relative balance that incorporates both her aspirations to provide healthy meal options and her need to juggle a home and family life .
In our family , we try to emphasize inclusion and participation as much as possible , so that the endless task of daily meal making and providing food feels less like a task , and more like a ritual . The following tips are a few suggestions on how to do just that , particularly with little children :
• Get the kids involved : From meal planning , to writing a grocery list , to shopping , to meal making ; there are small jobs that children can claim for themselves to feel that they are a part of the family ’ s need to cook and eat together . The more that they can be in charge of something , be it
7