Get Your Busy Families Back to the Table This Fall
It’s back to school time – when most families say goodbye to lazy summer afternoons and suddenly get pretty busy with homework, sports and music lessons - to name a few. Hannah Keeley has tips to help families get back to the dinner table to create rewarding family bonding experiences during the hectic, over-scheduled month of September and the rest of the year!
Tip #1: Dinnertime is Hectic Time
In a recent survey by Libby’s Vegetables and Mom Central Consulting, 59 percent of moms said that dinner prep time was the most hectic time of their day. So, shop with the family in mind and plan meals that everyone can contribute to. Libby’s Vegetables are affordable and convenient; saving you time in the kitchen without scrimping on a balanced meal. Then make cooking dinner the event of the evening for the family! Turn the TV off, put on music in the kitchen and give everyone a fun task to handle.
- For more time-saving tips in the kitchen Click Here
Tip #2: Stay Home and Make Something Easy
Some moms feel picking up fast food on the way home is an easy way to save time in the kitchen and spend more time with the family. Not only can this habit get costly, your children may not be learning a really important life skill: managing a healthy diet. No need to serve a gourmet meal, but here’s a meal from Libby’s that takes 10 minutes to prepare and costs about $10 at the grocery store: Italian Sausage, Green Bean and Garbanzo Soup.
- For more $10 Family Meals in 10 Minutes or Less visit the CANvenient Recipe Database.
Tip # 3: Get to Know More Confident Kids
Studies show that eating as a family has a lot of benefits for kids, such as reduced incidence of drug use, healthier diets, better grades and more confidence. So, take this time to get to know your children - learn what’s on their mind, about their friends and what sort of music they like. It helps keep you informed and it allows your kids to practice speaking to adults with confidence. Want to get a good conversation going? Set index cards with topics, questions or compliments at each person’s place. The quieter the family, the wackier the topics should be!
- Learn more about the benefits of regular family dinners with our Top 5 Reasons to Get Back to the Table.
Tip #4: Loosen Up the Rules
Dinnertime can and should be fun. When you’re planning out your week or month, sprinkle in a few theme dinners and build in some fun activities the family can share. For example, while everyone busses their own dinner dishes, lay out a large sheet of paper and crayons and create an artistic masterpiece together before dessert.
Tip #5: End Dinner on a Sweet Note
Most of us love sweets! And, after a long, jam-packed day, what could be more tempting than extending mealtime a little longer with a leisurely dessert. If homework or bath time interferes with this ritual, make dessert time a hands-on activity. Place out bowls of fresh cut fruit and ice cream or even vanilla yogurt and let the family wrap up dinner conversations while they make their own sweet treats.
