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Meal
Time - A Family Affair for Many Generations
Meal time is a family affair for many
generations. In today's society of hustle and bustle and
being always on the go, it is easy to overlook
family mealtimes. In the past, it was
traditional that at all three mealtimes, breakfast, lunch and
dinner, the family would all gather round the dinner table to
eat. Someone - usually one of the children - would set the
table,
Mom or Grandma (or both!) would
prepare a healthy, delicious meal which would be laid out on the
table. Dishes would be passed around the table, a prayer would
be said, and clean-up would take place before any children could
play.
While that
probably reminds you of your own childhood, how often does it
take place in your own home? Having a family mealtime can afford
you with a lot more benefits than you might think. Sure it
takes longer, and sure, everyone has to bend their ever-so-busy
schedules to it, but just imagine some of the wonderful benefits
of a
family mealtime!
A family
mealtime can enable you to be able to teach your children how to
cook - properly! Many children today simply can't cook anything
out of a microwave, and don't know how to follow a basic
recipe. Using family mealtimes as instructional times can be a
wonderful opportunity for you to teach your children how to cook
good, healthy meals. Showing your children and grandchildren
the basics, such as how to time cooking many dishes at once,
food preparation and substitutions, the mathematics involved in
cutting a recipe in half or doubling it, and many other cooking
lessons can be invaluable later in life. Passing on of family
recipes from one generation to another generation.
Having a
family meal also allows you to bring
your family closer together as a family unit and to involve the
entire family with an activity all at once. In today's world,
how often does your entire family get to sit down with one
another at the same time? Use this fantastic time as a way to
start conversations between members of your family. Discuss the
high points and low points of each family member's day. Learn
how your children are doing in school and extra-curricular
activities (if they are not home schooled). Most of all this
provides an environment where your family can talk to each other
and listen in an open forum.
Grandparents offer discussion of
history and
family traditions.
This can
also bring your family closer together in other ways. You can
have each family member plan one meal for the week, or have your
family plan meals together. Use this as a time to think about
the nutritional value of each meal, to incorporate all of the
food groups, and to also make sure that everyone has a chance to
eat their favorite foods! The ideas are limitless, and it will
encourage an atmosphere of sharing, kindness and caring.
Let each
member of your family take part in mealtime, from setting the
table to taking turns doing the dishes afterwards. It is all
about family participation and sharing. Include every member of
your family and be sure to be absolutely firm about this aspect
of your lives. Many times schedules and appointments can
interfere with family dinners, but this is a very important part
of your family life, and it should be treated as such by all
members of the family.
Meal time
isn't simply the time for us to eat, it is a time for us to come
together as a family unit and to strengthen our bonds together.
Whether you can eat one meal together a day or three, it is
important to set aside at least one meal a day as a "family
meal". Your family will thank you for
it!
Marcia Chumbley is a
work
at home mom and grandmother in Minnesota. She
is the owner of a
Christian Work From Home Moms
website
at
Faithful Grannies
http://www.faithfulgrannies.com
bringing generations of
Christian Work From Home Moms,
Grandmothers, Parents, Boomers and Families together
while providing resources, inspiration and affordable
advertising while balancing the work at home experience. She
holds a degree in Business and is a CMOM.
Article Source
CWAHGrandparents.com
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