Family Day 2008

A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Family

by Tyra M. Carter, PhD, RD, LD – Corporate Dietitian, United Supermarkets

Quick Facts:
The Power of Family Meals

Children and teens that have frequent family meals:

• Have healthier eating habits and body weight status.
• Are more likely to be emotionally content and have positive peer relationships.
• Are more likely to get better grades in school.
• Are less likely to have sex at young ages.
• Are less likely to smoke, drink or use illegal drugs.

Go to http://casafamilyday.org/familyday to learn more about the importance of family dinners and to get a free family dinner kit.

Families are busier than ever, yet research supports that sitting down and eating a meal as a family is still a valued American tradition. Regardless of a child's gender, family structure, social or economic status, frequent family dinners make a difference in the lives of children and teens. Family Day, the fourth Monday in September, is a national effort to promote parental engagement as a simple, effective way to raise healthier children and reduce problematic behavior such as substance abuse.

United Supermarkets/Market Street/Amigos United encourages you to celebrate Family Day by eating dinner together on Monday, September 22 and every day possible. To help you spend more time with your kids by having dinner together, our team of dietitians has put together a month of weekday menus and recipes. We've focused on quick, easy, nutritious, budget-conscience meals for families on-the-go. We realize that current economic conditions are creating the need to change the way you spend your food dollars. People are eating out less, taking more lunches to work and making deliberate frugal choices when shopping at the supermarket.

Our menus use fresh ingredients to help your family get more fruits and veggies. Take this opportunity to try new varieties of produce and be a positive role model by serving and eating it with your kids. We've also incorporated more whole grains into our menus, including whole grain pasta and quinoa. Quinoa is a protein-packed ancient whole grain that is as convenient as white rice, yet offers greater nutritional value for your money. Lastly, we are using our own Food Club and Valu Time products when possible to bring even more savings to your table.

Tips for Dinners with a Difference!

During dinner, turn off the TV and cell phones; let your answering machine record incoming calls. Parents have the opportunity to be a positive role model for their children while sharing a meal and engaging in meaningful conversation. Talk about what happened in everyone's day, keep conversation positive and make sure everyone gets a chance to speak. Involving children in meal planning, grocery shopping and preparation early in life helps establish healthy eating patterns that can be followed throughout life.

Whether you're gathered around the table for macaroni and cheese or a gourmet meal, don't underestimate the "parent power" behind the simple act of taking time to eat dinner with your kids regularly. If your schedules make it impossible to eat dinner together, try having breakfast together. The stories and laughs around the table help you to stay connected to your kids!