Family Dinners Offer More Than Sustenance

(ARA) - The kitchen has long been touted as the heart of the home but recent studies show that consistent family dinners offer more than nourishment. There also are tremendous emotional and nutritional benefits.

A recent study released by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University found that the more often children have dinner with their parents, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use illegal drugs. The time spent around the dinner table fosters security and trust. Rituals and togetherness have long been touted as forceful factors behind healthy youth development. A 1999 study by RL Tepper, found that young people whose families routinely ate meals together spent more time on homework and reading for pleasure.

Another trend that is paralleled with the decline of the family dinner is the rise in obesity in children. Studies show that frequency of eating family meals is associated with greater consumption of fruits and vegetables, less fried food, less saturated and trans fats and more fiber. As parents, we need to foster eating habits that last a lifetime, says Karen Hutcherson co-owner of Relish! (www.relishrelish.com) an online menu service designed to help busy families with dinner planning. You dont have to be a gourmet cook to prepare wonderful meals, you just need to be organized. Plan ahead, shop ahead and use some of the useful services available. Try some of these tips:

• Take a stand with coaches, dance teachers and anyone else who is eating into your dinner hour. If enough parents get together, attitudes will change.
• Even if you get home late, dont rely on fast food. Have your older children help prepare the food and eat late if you have to.
• Turn off the TV, dont answer the phone and make sure the dinner hour is an open forum for children to discuss their issues.
• Plan your meals on Sunday and have everything in the refrigerator by Monday. With a little organization, you can have your meals planned and ready to go.

Courtesy of ARA Content. Translation into Spanish language provided by Daniel Villa, a native of Ecuador and a Spanish teacher in Rockingham, NC.