Healthy eating for busy families
Did you know that of teens who eat with their families fewer than three times per week, 20 percent get Cs or lower on their report cards? Only nine percent of teens who eat frequently with their families do this poorly in school. We have become so busy as a society that family meals have become a thing of the past. Here are some things you can do to make family meals happen again:
- Plan. Planning the week’s meals around the week’s scheduled activities is important. Involve the whole family in menu planning.
- Choose recipes that are easy to prepare, yet still healthy. Sometimes paying for convenience is cheaper in the long-run. Purchase things like salad mixes, ready to eat vegetables and fruits that are pre-cut. You’re more likely to eat them if you don’t have to do the prep work.
- Plan a “cooking day” where everyone in the family helps to assemble meals that can be frozen for later use.
Healthy Eating for Busy Families - Find ingredients that can be used in several different meals, such as canned beans, salsa, frozen vegetables or chicken breasts. Out of these ingredients you can make things such as fajitas, tacos and chili.
- Learn to love your crock-pot! Enjoy the convenience of having your meal cooking while you’re at work. There’s nothing better than walking in to your house after a long day and smelling dinner ready to go!
I was helping one of my daughters after the birth of a grandchild and she found a wonderful website for freezer/crock-pot meals. I made several recipes from this website and put them in her freezer to use during those first few months with a newborn.
A little planning goes a long way in being prepared for family meals!