Healthy Eating for Healthier Living
It’s a known fact that families who incorporate fresh produce in their meals are healthier. Researchers at Rutgers University recently analyzed results from 68 scientific reports looking at the relationship between family mealtime and kids’ health.
The goal of this research was to determine whether sitting down and having a meal at the table prompted healthy eating habits. After the study, researchers determined that kids who had frequent family meals ate more healthy food such as; fruits, veggies, fiber, calcium-rich food, and vitamins.
Those who often ate as a family also tended to have a lower body mass index (BMI) and fewer of their calories came from foods that nutritionists tab as harmful. Between work, school and extra-curricular activities, preparing a healthy meal can be a daunting task, but the truth is, eating family meals regularly is easier than ever.
Not only does healthy eating promote fresh, good-for-you selections like fruits and vegetables, but eliminates the empty calories, excess sugar and fat you find in fast food. Incorporating fresh produce into your meals can be as easy as steaming vegetables for dinner and packing a crunchy and delicious snack.
Making dinnertime a daily family ritual, involving both preparation and consumption of fresh produce and other healthy food items may accomplish the following:
- Reduce the frequency of eating out
- Increase consumption of healthier foods
- Help children and adolescents develop positive emotional and physical health
- Build family cohesion
Incorporating fresh produce into your meals not only promotes a healthy lifestyle, but also allows for great family time that you may not get from eating fast food in a car. For more information on where you can get the freshest produce, contact Sunny Produce by calling 956-971-9393.