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Posts Tagged ‘Dine In Day’

I’m “Dining In”!

Posted in Healthy People, Healthy Relationships, tagged , , , , , , on December 2, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Family enjoying a meal together

Family Mealtime

December 3rd is Family and Consumer Sciences Day.   The theme for the 2019 “Dine In” for Healthy Families is, “Neighbors as Family”. This December, I encourage you to host a “Dine In” meal with your neighbors of choice. This might be neighbors in an apartment, college dorm or friends from across town. Your “neighbors” might be people you see regularly from work, the gym or other community settings. Your meal can be breakfast, lunch or dinner. Interested? Look at the meal prep tips and recipes listed below.

Why should you say “YES” to Family Mealtime?

A “family meal” is when the people you live with or consider “neighbors” come together to eat and talk. Why should you add this to your routine?

  • Eating together can be an opportunity to have conversations with family and friends.
  • Regular family meals create a routine that may help children feel more secure.
  • Eating together can provide the opportunity to teach and learn basic food preparation skills.
  • Make it a positive place for conversation – place your devices (phone, tablets, etc.) away from the table. Focus on positive interactions with those at your table. Not sure what to talk about? Iowa State Extension shares Mealtime Conversation Starters to help you get started.

Would you like some ideas to help you get started on the Meal Prep side of things?
Here are a few tips for prep day:

  • On your meal prep day, focus first on foods that take the longest to cook: proteins like chicken and fish; whole grains like brown rice, quinoa; dried beans and legumes; and, roasted vegetables.
  • Also consider preparing staple foods that everyone in the family enjoys and which you can easily add to a weekday meal or grab for a snack: washed greens for a salad, hard-boiled eggs, a bowl of chopped fruit, cooked beans.
  • If you prefer not to precook proteins, consider marinating poultry, fish, or even tofu (in the refrigerator) on your prep day so that you can quickly pop them into the oven or stir-fry later in the week.
  • Multi-task! While foods are baking or bubbling on the stove-top, chop vegetables and fresh fruit, or wash and dry salad greens for later in the week.
  • As you find favorite ‘prep-able’ meals, watch for sales and coupons to stock up on frequently used shelf-stable ingredients like pasta, rice, and other whole grains, lentils, beans (canned or dried), jarred sauces, healthy oils, and spices.
    Need more Inspiration? Check out these easy-to-make recipes. 

Our Favorite Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Six Can Chicken Tortilla Soup

 Skillet Lasagna

 Veggie Crockpot Lasagna

 Southwest Shredded Chicken

 Egg Roll in a Bowl

Remember to enjoy time with family and friends. Enjoy conversations over mealtimes. Have fun making the meal. Remember to relax, talk and enjoy the time spent with your “family” – whether it is your family, friends, co-workers or neighbors.

Sources:

“Dine In” With Us! Family & Consumer Sciences Day. https://www.aafcs.org/fcsday/home

Mealtime Conversation Cards. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/Mealtime-Conversation-Cards

Writer: Michelle Treber, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Pickaway County, treber.1@osu.edu

Reviewers: Patrice Powers-Barker, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Lucas County, powers-barker.1@osu.edu

Tammy Jones, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Pike County, jones.5640@osu.edu

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“Dine In” on December 3

Posted in Healthy People, Healthy Relationships, tagged , , , on November 30, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Does your family regularly eat together?  December 3 (Dine-In Day) is a good time to start or make it a habit to share a meal together as a family.  Sharing a meal can
happen at any time during the day, breakfast, lunch orfamily meal
dinner.   Try to make it a healthy meal by following My Plate.   You don’t have to prepare all or any of the food for the meal, it could be take-out food or even eating at a restaurant. The most important part is sitting down together at the table. Turn off television, phones, screens or other distractions and talk together.

Eating together as a family has been shown to provide benefits to your child in recent research by Musick and Meier.  These benefits are just from eating healthy meals together:

  • 35% are less likely to develop eating disorders
  • 24% are more likely to eat healthy
  • 12% are less likely to become overweight
  • The family will feel the benefits of closeness and comfort which provides                         stability.
  • Other researchers found children are less likely to develop depression symptoms and have less delinquency.

Past research showed additional benefits but didn’t account for other family factors.  The following benefits will continue to develop in many children but can not be associatfamily-eating-at-the-table-619142_640ed due only to family meals:

  • Children are more likely to have better mental health and avoid substance use and delinquency.
  • Children have greater academic achievement.
  • Children show improved psychological well-being.
  • The family has more positive interactions.

Here are some recommendations of getting started having family meals or keeping it a priority:

  1. Choose a meal or different set of meals you will share together as a family.
  2. Set a goal of sharing a family meal at least three times a week.
  3. Realize your family will gain closeness and comfort as they eat meals together.  This can provide some stability for your children, especially during times of turmoil.
  4. Make sure the time is quality time by turning off television, phones, screens and other distractions. Ask your children questions and talk together.  Make it a happy time together, no criticism or complaining.

Commit to participating in “Dine In” Day by clAAFCS_Day_Logo_2015ouicking on this link http://www.aafcs.org/FCSday/index.html  and signing up. to participate. Take a picture of your family eating a healthy meal together and post on their Facebook page, Twitter, and/or Instagram using #FCSday and #healthyfamselfie.    Share your pictures with me on Twitter at #93brinkman and post on our Live  Healthy Live Well Facebook page.

Author:  Pat Brinkman, Extension Educator Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension Fayette County

Reviewer:  Marilyn Rabe, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County

References

American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, (2016).  “ Dine-In” With Us!  Available at http://www.aafcs.org/FCSday/index.html

Cook, E. and Dunifon, R. (2016). Do Family Meals Really Make a Difference?  Cornell University.  Available at http://www.human.cornell.edu/pam/outreach/upload/Family-Mealtimes-2.pdf

USDA, Choose My Plate, (2016).  Start with Small Changes, Available at https://www.choosemyplate.gov/start-small-changes

 

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Take a “Dine In Day” With Your Family

Posted in Healthy People, Healthy Relationships, tagged , , , , , , on December 3, 2015| 1 Comment »

National “Dine In Day” is today (December 3, 2015), but dining in with your family is important all the time. “Dine In Day” is sponsored by the AmeriDinner with Familycan Association of Family and Consumer Sciences to encourage families to reconnect and dine in. If you aren’t ready for “Dine In Day” yet, start planning now so you can begin dining in more often with your family. Numerous research studies report the benefits for children to eat family meals together:

  • Children who eat as a family make healthier food choices and maintain a healthy weight.
  • Teens that eat with their families are less likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and use illegal drugs.
  • Eating with families gives teen’s better self-esteem and are less likely to be depressed.
  • Young children model their parents and other adults; by eating meals together they are more likely to eat healthy foods like vegetables, low-fat proteins, fruits, and dairy foods.
  • Dining together builds communication between generations and bonds families, benefiting family members of all ages.

To get your family back in the habit of eating together and dining at home try starting small. Plan just two days a week that you are going to eat together (if you are eating out all the time now). Involve the whole family in the meal planning and preparation – ask others what they want to have or what sounds good for this week. Be sure to eat at the table together, eliminate distractions like TV or phones, and discuss positive/neutral topics.

If you don’t know where to start try these websites for inexpensive and quick family meal ideas:

What’s Cooking, USDA Mixing Bowl

Share Our Strength’s, Cooking Matters

Food Hero

Let us know what you decide to fix when you “Dine In”. In the comment section you can message us your favorite family meals or use the #hashtags #FCSday, #healthyfamselfie, or #DineInDay.

Sources:

American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences: http://www.aafcs.org/FCSday/

Washington State Dairy Council: http://ext100.wsu.edu/clark/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2014/02/eattogethereatbetter.pdf

University of Florida, Institute of Food and Science, https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1061

Writer: Lisa Barlage, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County.

Reviewers: Tammy Jones, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Pike County and Daniel Remley, Field Specialist, Food, Nutrition, and Wellness, Ohio State University Extension .

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