NorthJersey.com:
The upcoming holiday season will present many opportunities for Oak Ridge-area families to gather together and share a meal. But for parents who are looking to promote learning and positive communication, family dinners should not be reserved for just festive occasions.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, eating dinner together as a family every night keeps the doors of communication open between parents and children. Furthermore, family dinners are also a perfect opportunity for moms and dads to teach children about eating healthy and making good food choices.
“Although hectic schedules have made family dinners a thing of the past, there is compelling evidence that sitting down at a table to share a meal is an ideal environment for family interaction,” said Nancy Zajdel, Director of Kiddie Academy of Jefferson. “In addition to discussing the school-related events, dinnertime is the perfect time to talk about healthy eating topics, such as the five food groups and the importance of having different colors of food on your plate.”