Healthy Eating for Families

Sit down and enjoy a meal together with your family. Don't rush, you deserve a break!

Studies show that eating family meals together is associated with healthy eating patterns, such as eating more fruits and vegetables, more fibre and less fat. Eating together also helps develop healthy food habits in children, particularly when parents are good role models.

Tips for fun and enjoyable family meals and healthy eating:

• Share the duty among your family members - Assign jobs to share the load. For example, younger children can set the table, older kids can help with food preparation and everyone can help with the cleanup.
• Double up on recipes - 1 meal can become 2, and leftovers can be frozen for later
• Keep your snacks handy - Most people, including kids, tend to eat what is handy, so plan to keep vegetables and fruit in reach and in sight. But keep cookies, chips and candy out of sight and out of reach (better yet, don't keep them around at all).
• Give it a try since variety is the spice of life. Try a new recipe or new food every once in a while, and even ask your family members to find and suggest recipes that they would like to try.
• Do it all at once! - Cook stews, soups and casseroles in a slowcooker. The food will stay heated and be ready to eat as different family members arrive home.
• Don't skip meals - Eating breakfast, and all meals, can prevent hunger attacks which may lead to overeating or snacking on less nutritious choices later in the day.
• Stock up your car - Keep snacks in the car or in your bag to avoid vending machines and fast food stops. For example: trail mix made with cereal, nuts, and dried fruit; whole-grain or graham crackers; yogurt and cheese; individual containers of fruit; water bottles and juice boxes.
• Make Sunday your family day - Take some time out and have some fun! Do some activities with your family such as biking, hiking, swimming, playing badminton or even cooking a nutritious meal!
• Practice setting limits - First set priorities and decide what is most important for your family and you, and set time aside for those things.