Food: The Least Important Part of Dinner A lot of American families are either eating out or coking ready-made food instead of preparing a meal at home due to their busy schedules. In an article titled Takeout NATIONS, Adler describes how families are making the time to eat together but they are just stopping on the way home and picking up food that is already prepared for them (52-54). Although it is positive that Americans are trying to eat as a family, there is a lot of quality time and life lessons that could be getting lost. Taking the time to plan, shop, and prepare home cooked meals should be a higher priority in American households. Getting children involved early during the meal planning process can have a lot of benefits. Depending
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This is with your guidance of course. This will help them understand the importance of a balanced, nutritious meal, and why each food is important. They can also begin to understand serving sizes. Tell them they have to pick at least one green vegetable. If they make the choice and prepare it, they will eat it, or at least try it! (Mintz 8-9)
Planning meals can also help them understand time management and how to plan around a busy schedule. Plan your own ready-made meals. For instance, when grocery shopping is over start preparing a few meals right then. Meat and vegetables can be put in storage bags with marinate so after a busy Tuesday all they have to do is empty the bag on the grill and dinner is served 15 minutes later. Teaching children to plan will prepare them for things in and out of the …show more content…
Ask them to taste things, get their input, try what they are working on and encourage them, and last but not least, have fun!
Shut off the TV. Turn on some music and dance while you cook. Give everybody a job. Young kids can stir or hand your ingredients or utensils. Don’t be too afraid of letting school-age children use knives or be near a stove. Teach them the safe way to use them (McCarthy).
Most people don’t have time to spend hours in the kitchen every evening but even 10 or 15 minutes with children in the kitchen could be helpful. Have them help with one of the ready-made meals they prepared and encourage them on how it tastes or teach them how to sauté up some garlic and shallots in a couple minutes that can be used to elevate store bought spaghetti sauce. Whether it’s been a long day or a planned afternoon of cooking this is a great time to take time to reset everyone’s day, have fun, and provide
This is with your guidance of course. This will help them understand the importance of a balanced, nutritious meal, and why each food is important. They can also begin to understand serving sizes. Tell them they have to pick at least one green vegetable. If they make the choice and prepare it, they will eat it, or at least try it! (Mintz 8-9)
Planning meals can also help them understand time management and how to plan around a busy schedule. Plan your own ready-made meals. For instance, when grocery shopping is over start preparing a few meals right then. Meat and vegetables can be put in storage bags with marinate so after a busy Tuesday all they have to do is empty the bag on the grill and dinner is served 15 minutes later. Teaching children to plan will prepare them for things in and out of the …show more content…
Ask them to taste things, get their input, try what they are working on and encourage them, and last but not least, have fun!
Shut off the TV. Turn on some music and dance while you cook. Give everybody a job. Young kids can stir or hand your ingredients or utensils. Don’t be too afraid of letting school-age children use knives or be near a stove. Teach them the safe way to use them (McCarthy).
Most people don’t have time to spend hours in the kitchen every evening but even 10 or 15 minutes with children in the kitchen could be helpful. Have them help with one of the ready-made meals they prepared and encourage them on how it tastes or teach them how to sauté up some garlic and shallots in a couple minutes that can be used to elevate store bought spaghetti sauce. Whether it’s been a long day or a planned afternoon of cooking this is a great time to take time to reset everyone’s day, have fun, and provide