10 Best Meals To Take To New Parents

Best Meals To Take To New Parents in 2023

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Family Meals: Making Meal Time a Positive Experience

Ideas for a successful and positive family meal time experience.

Today, many families are on the run 24/7 - going in different directions. Families are finding it more and more difficult having meals together as a family. More parents are working longer hours, and more children are spending more time in after care programs. Children are involved in sports, attending dance or musical recitals, and attending scout meetings.

Family meal time needs to make a come back, and families need to get reacquainted. Meal time can be a pleasant and memorable experience for everyone. It should be relaxing. A time where everyone gathers around the table. A place where families can bond and connect with one another, and share the events of their day. Meal time should be a time where positive conversation takes place, and family members are learning more about one another.

No radio, no television or phones. The music that your hear is laughter filling the room.

Dinner time is not the only time families can come together. It could be breakfast, a picnic or a backyard BBQ. Quality time is important. Start off by setting a day and time when the family will come together for a meal, then work towards eating together several times a week.

Your family meal time experience can start with your children helping in the kitchen. Conversation can take place as they can learn basic cooking techniques, kitchen safety and lessons on healthy eating. If you have a picky eater, let them assist in the preparation of the meal, so they can see how it is made. After a while they will learn to like different foods, and will accept new foods if the participated. If foods are appetizing, children will accept them.

Children like to set the table, serve their own food, and like to help clean up. If the children are allowed to help out, it can improve their self-help skills and their self-esteem. Conversation, bonding and making memories take place between parents and their children.

It has been proven that families who are engaged in conversation during family meal time, children do better in school, are less likely to get involved in drugs and alcohol, are less likely to have eating disorders and are less likely to feel pressure or stress. There is a feeling of security and trust.

After meal time, you can always extend your family time and get involved in board games, cards or other family fun activities.

A few ideas for creating a positive meal time conversation (remember to avoid unpleasant conversations and negative criticism):

Ask questions to get a conversation going: What do you think you would look like in 10 years? If you can be an animal, what kind of animal would you like be and why? If you could be a dancer, what kind of dancer would you like to be?

Play a game:Using the alphabet, have everyone take a turn and come up with word using the items on the table or foods prepared for that meal. See how many letters of the alphabet you can use. (Example: A - aroma; B - butter; C - chair; D - dishes, etc.)

Make family plans: Plan your next family outing or vacation. Get everyone's input, then vote on it! Plan your family's next meal. (Ask for volunteers to help with the grocery shopping, preparation of the meal, clean up or to pick the next topic for a family conversation.

Enjoy the time you have with your family during meal time!