x24,Top3,TopLeft,x25,x12
transportation footprint quiz promo graphic photo
a discovery company

Set the Table and Eat Together

Five tips for making mealtime family time.

Kelly Rossiter

By Kelly Rossiter
Toronto, Canada | Wed Apr 16 17:21:00 GMT 2008

2008-04-13_143729-set-the-table.jpg

Healthy eating habits start with making mealtimes a family affair.
Charles Hewitt/Hutlon Archive/Getty Images

A discussion was held at Concordia University recently entitled Domestic Foodscapes. Rhona Richman Kenneally a professor of design and computation arts at Concordia and Jordan LeBel, an associate professor at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration asked 53 undergraduates to describe their childhood family dinners and to draw pictures of their kitchens.

The results aren't surprising. Those with the most vivid memories scored higher on the scales for food involvement and positive eating behaviour. Those who had trouble recreating drawings or had fewer memories of meals with family were more likely to see food as fuel and as a matter of convenience.Dr. Label makes some suggestions to increase the pleasure we take in our food.

1. Have a kitchen table. Students who drew tables in their childhood kitchens had more involvement in food preparation and more interest in food.

2. Rethink the island. It creates a barrier between family members in the kitchen as well as promoting grazing and eating standing up.

3. Set the table. Make dinner an event when you can. Try to eat one meal a day together. Everyone in the family will understand that they have a place at the table.

4. Turn the TV off. You should be paying attention to what you are eating and who you are sharing it with.

5. Involve your children in the preparation, not just the clean-up. Who wants to be on clean-up duty all the time? Kids will enjoy cooking if you just give them the chance.

via: The Globe and Mail

Difficulty Level: Easy

 
  • email
  • digg
  • share
  • print
helpful article? vote for it
{ }
close window

CLOSE X

 

comments on this article

view all post a comment

 
 

from our partners

Activity

http://kids.discovery.com

TLC Cooking "Dinner Preparation Tips"

http://recipes.howstuffworks.com

TLC Cooking "Brunch and Breakfast Tips"

http://recipes.howstuffworks.com
 
 
Emeril Kelly and Supper Club Recipes by Category
 
 
facebook twitter rss
 
Reel Impact
 
Quiz
 
green diy projects
 
organic-az
 

tv schedule

view all

On Now

On Tonight

 

today on planet green

view all

Votes

recent
discussed

Organic A-Z: Lemon
POSTED  17 HOURS AGO.  COMMENTS

{ }

K is for Molly and Nabe's Super Kale with Seared Tofu
POSTED  19 HOURS AGO.  COMMENTS

{ }

K is For Sneaking Kale into Smoothies
POSTED  20 HOURS AGO.  COMMENTS

{ }

L is for Shaker Lemon Pie with Blueberries
POSTED  20 HOURS AGO.  COMMENTS

{ }

Organic A-Z: Kale
POSTED  21 HOURS AGO.  COMMENTS

{ }

Ask Emeril Your Green Cooking Questions
POSTED  7 Apr 2009. 46 COMMENTS.

{476}

How To Go Green: Lighting
POSTED  23 Jul 2008. 7 COMMENTS.

{212}

Should You Get a Flu Shot?
POSTED  1 Oct 2009. 3 COMMENTS.

{17}

More Fun with Urban Foraging: Crabapples!
POSTED  10 Oct 2009. 2 COMMENTS.

{17}

The 100-Mile Challenge Episode: New Rules
POSTED  26 Oct 2009. 2 COMMENTS.

{3}

 
 
TLC Cooking
 

Ads by Google