A Family Diet Together is A Family Healthy Together

Ok, maybe the title isn't exactly right, but the point is that studies have found that those families who eat together are showing to be healthier. While this obviously doesn't mean that if you all go to Pizza Hut and eat together everyday you're going to be healthier. A healthy diet is not just about eating together, but doing so at home is a good start. I'm sure it's good for a lot of things other than just a better chance of eating healthier. Since the childhood obesity epidemic is not slowing down, all families could certainly stand to come together and help make at least one meal a day a special time to be together and get healthy nutrients. Here's more about why it may be a better idea for your children and you to have your meals together --

Time spent with children - any time - has huge rewards for the family. But family mealtimes, in particular, are special. They should be cherished, fought for, held onto with fierce determination.

The bonding that takes place between children and their parents during meals may be the most important time families spend together.

In her book "Your Child's Weight: Helping Without Harming" (Kelcy Press, 2005), family nutrition expert Ellyn Satter describes the benefits of family meals.

"Time spent with families at meals is more related to the psychological and academic success of adolescents than time spent in school, studying, church, playing sports or doing art activities," she writes. "Teens who had regular meals with a parent were better adjusted emotionally and socially, had better grades and went further in school."

Satter goes on to describe the nutritional benefits of family meals.

"When teens ate dinner with their parents, they ate better - more fruits, vegetables and dairy foods."

Better food intake, in turn, leads to better nutrient intake. The Harvard University Nurse's Health Study showed students who ate dinner with their family consumed more folate, calcium, iron and vitamins B6, B12, C and E.

If this sounds familiar, it may be because you've read it previously in this column. It's so important that I think it bears repeating: The simple act of parents and children sharing meals may be the key to a lot more than just better nutrition. (Full story)

Comments: A healthy diet is important for any family. But family should be more important as a healthy diet. Together, they can be important for everyone and provide for a stable and happier existence. A healthy diet plan should be a part of a healthy family. Children today need to spend more time with their family, and maybe we can correct the obesity epidemic.

Diet and exercise can help reduce the risk of degenerative diseases like heart disease and stroke, diabetes and cancer. Learn why eating fruits and vegetables is especially important, and how you can benefit from adding Juice Plus+® to your diet.

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