National Family Meals Month: Tips to make mealtime yummy, fun, and easy!
Sharing a meal with family used to be a daily occurrence, but with busy schedules and endless to-do-lists, it can feel like more of a treat (or chore) nowadays. We get it. We’ve been there.
The temptation of takeout after a long day is hard to resist and sometimes it’s the only option. But nothing beats a home-cooked meal with people you love. It’s good for the soul and good for our mental and physical health. Studies show that when families eat together, they tend to consume more fruits and vegetables. It’s also been shown that sharing a family meal can also decrease the likelihood of disordered eating, substance use, and feelings of depression among teens.
In a perfect world, every meal would be a family meal, but we know that’s not realistic for many families. Whether you share a couple meals or the majority of them a week, here are some practical tips to help make mealtime yummy, fun and easy!
1. Good Food Follows
Deciding what to make for dinner might be the hardest part about mealtime. If you’re feeling stuck and need inspiration, we encourage you to follow these accounts for simple, nutritious recipes:
- @kid.food.explorers: for dietician mom hacks (ex: learn how to make a healthy dinner in 5 minutes)
- @marisamoore: for plant- based meals that even picky eaters will like (ex: this butternut mac and cheese)
- @lovinglylina: for guilt-free desserts that satisfy sweet cravings (ex: these avocado brownies)
Looking for more inspiration? Visit our recipe hub for more ideas!
2. Get Everyone Involved
Mealtime can be stressful when the responsibility falls on just one person. Getting everyone involved can speed things up and make meals a lot more fun! Try assigning roles based on age and ability—whether it’s helping with prep, setting the table, or cleaning up afterward.
Jeanette Bultman-Mercado, a PHA program participant in Milwaukee, says she loves cooking with her daughter.
“[My 9-year-old daughter] Penelope loves to cook with me. She always asks what she can do, and she’s really gotten better with cutting and stuff. I think it’s really important that they get the skills to be able to cook for themselves.” - Jeanette from Milwaukee, WI
Getting kids involved not only teaches valuable life skills but also makes them more excited about the meal.
3. Keep It Simple
Family meals don’t have to be elaborate. In fact, they can be as easy as 1, 2, 3.
Just like that, dinner is served!
4. Set a Date
One easy way to make family meals a priority is to pick a weekday to eat together and commit to it. Whether it’s Taco Tuesday or Slow Cooker Sunday or any other day of the week that works for everyone. Setting a date in advance and creating a tradition around it will give you and your family something to look forward to!
5. Save Time with Delivery or Pick-up
Grocery shopping can be time-consuming, but you can save a lot of time with delivery or pick-up. For a small fee you can skip the trip entirely and use the extra time to get a headstart on your meal. Or if you’re looking for a more budget friendly option, opt for pick up.
“I never thought about getting things delivered because I thought that was a little bit lazy, I have to admit,” said Jeanette, a PHA program participant. “But it turns out that it really was convenient. I would definitely say to any busy mom, any busy parents, they should consider adding that into their options for getting groceries because it really will help you with a time saver, and of all the things in our life, time is the most precious, isn’t it?”
National Family Meals Month is the perfect opportunity to prioritize family mealtime. Whether you’re planning a simple dinner or a hearty feast, we hope these tips can help make family meals more manageable and enjoyable!