GAINESVILLE — Dec. 3 marks the second annual day for "Dining In" for Healthy Families across the United States.
The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension faculty encourages everyone to enjoy a nutritious meal with those close to them.
"Not only are family meals important for spending quality time together and building relationships, research shows that eating meals together contributes to healthier dietary patterns," said Linda Bobroff, a UF/IFAS nutrition and health professor. "When they frequently share family meals, people tend to eat more foods that often are limited in the American diet, like fruits and vegetables.
"They also get more of the nutrients that are not provided in adequate amounts in many people's diets. These include fiber, calcium and iron, and vitamins C, E, B6, B12 and folate, all of which are critical for good health."
Some families find eating together difficult because of scheduling conflicts, including school, work and extracurricular activities, said Karla Shelnutt, an associate professor in the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences.
She offers these suggestions for increasing the frequency of family meals:
- Make them a priority.
- Increase meals by one extra meal each week.
- As a family, plan a menu for the week.
- Let children get involved in preparing the meal.
- Turn off the TV during meals.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Northwest Florida: 'Dine in' Dec. 3 for better communication, nutrition