Heart Healthy Family – Sit down and eat together.

I know making meals a priority can be challenging with busy schedules, but that doesn’t make it any less important. Research consistently shows families that eat together eat healthier meals and better dietary outcomes. A family meal is strictly limited to the entire family being together. What’s important is that whoever is home or together takes the time to sit down and enjoy mealtime together. This means if one parent is at work the other can sit down for meal time with the kids.

A study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found children who ate family meals are:

More likely to eat fruits and vegetables
Less likely to choose unhealthy snacks

Another survey found frequent family meals related to better nutrition intake, decreased risk for unhealthy weight gain, and reduced risk of substance abuse.

Family meals are also a great opportunity to introduce new foods, with you acting as role model for trying something new.

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
How to Make Heart Healthy Changes into Lifelong Habits
http://hearthealthmadeeasy.com