The Importance of Family Mealtime

Family-style meals are a great opportunity for kids to develop and learn. The goal of family-style meals is to include a representation of all (or most) food groups in the meal: a protein source, grains, fruit, vegetables, healthy fats, and a dairy (or non-dairy substitute) source. Plan pleasing meals for the family, making sure to include one or two items in the meal that the family likes and will eat. Do everything you can to keep the meal vibe positive—it’s essential for success.

1. Kids get control – instead of mom or dad deciding which food, and how much food makes it on the plate at mealtime, the control of this decision shifts to the child. Giving kids a little bit of control in this area by allowing them to choose their food items and quantities may reduce complaining and improve the happiness factor at meals.

2. They learn about food – kids learn about food at the meal table, from the taste of food to how much they need to eat to feel satisfied. At a minimum, passing food around the table helps kids see and smell new foods, hone serving skills and manners, and get a sense of how much food to eat.

3. Family-style meals provide a low-pressure environment for eating if it’s done right. If parents harp on their kids to take some of this food, or more of that food, they may not see the benefits of family-style meals because they are putting on too much pressure; Kids who feel too much pressure to eat may not eat well at all. In fact, they may experience early fullness, low appetite, and develop a negative association to food. Instead, relax about food choices and eating, and view mealtime as a time of learning and gathering. Make sure your family-style dinners are a positive environment and let your children choose their utensils.

Tanager Housewares offers a wide range of colorful, amazing children’s tableware. Your princess can choose a set of 4 pretty princess bowls. Each princess character has a story she can dream of and should a dragon come swooping down in their imagination, the bowls are shatterproof and scratch-resistant. And if your child loves animals, there is a colorful set of animal cups – colorful scenes on each cup allow children to create an imaginative story for each animal.

See these and many more kid-friendly and adult tableware at Tanager Housewares at 2156 Huntington Drive San Marino. You can also call them at (626) 284-8154, send them an email at hello@tanagerhousewares.co, or visit the online store at http://www.tanagerhousewares.co/ and use the “20% discount coupon code” : 20NOW4M