• Plan Wisely – Choose days or times that work best for your family. Family meals might be dinner on Monday, Tuesday, and Fridays, breakfast on Saturday, and brunch on Sundays. Be flexible as sports and after school activities evolve. The family meal could also be the family snack if your family has too many obligations and activities. Keep in mind, any time is better than no time and it counts as a family meal if you are eating it together. You can always start with a goal of one family meal a week.
  
  
• Prepare appropriately – With younger children, the question is not only what to cook but also how to occupy them while the meal is being prepared. Do some brainstorming and figure out what works for you child. Your child’s occupancy in a high chair or bouncy seat may keep you company in the kitchen, or trading off times with a neighbor so you cook while she entertains the children and vice versa. Older children can easily occupy themselves, but why not get them involved in the food preparation? It may take a bit more time, as well as patience and clean-up, but the memories and experience are well worth it.
  
  
• Choose Wisely – Allow the family to have input on the meals served as well as the grocery list. This is another wonderful time to role model healthy food choices with your children, such as helping them find cereals and snacks that not only taste good but are also healthy. By giving your children the respect and responsibility of choosing different food, they will be more likely to try new foods.

Want more tips and ideas for family meals?
Try these websites:
www.mealsmatter.org
www.minutemeals.com