In the summer many of us let our day-to-day routines slip. As we transition back to reality in the fall and face the return of homework, after-school activities, PTA meetings, and more it can be hard to get back into the swing of things. In particular, finding ways to get dinner on the table can be a real challenge. But it doesn’t have to be! With a little planning and preparatory acts, getting back into…
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My family and I just returned from our annual summer trip to Colorado. It is a visit we look forward to every year as a time to slow down, connect with family and friends, and enjoy lots of time outside. This year was particularly meaningful, though, because we had the opportunity to celebrate my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. To celebrate this momentous occasion, my parents rented a place up the mountains for a week. In…
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For most of the year I have a regular routine when it comes to meal planning and getting dinner on the table that it goes something like this: I plan our meals and grocery list on Saturday morning I go grocery shopping on Sunday morning before the grocery crowds form Each evening I start preparing dinner sometime between 5:45 and 6:15 and dinner is on the table at 6:45 This system works well for me…
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60 Years Ago, the average dinnertime was 90 minutes. Today it is less than 12 minutes. Why is family dinner so important? Kids and teens who share family dinners 3 or more times per week: Are less likely to be overweight Are more likely to eat healthy foods Perform better academically Are less likely to engage in risky behaviors (drugs, alcohol, sexual activity) Have better relationships with their parents And “More frequent family dinners are…
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It’s something that we parents never want to think about or imagine. The idea that the food we give our children could hurt them is terrifying, and yet kids 4 years old and younger are at the highest risk of choking. This is because they have not fully mastered chewing and will sometimes try to swallow large pieces of food that their bodies can’t handle. This is a terrifying prospect and the impulse to avoid…
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