Dr Joanna McMillan
Dr Joanna McMillan joins Essential Kids!
Dr Joanna McMillan, Nutrition Expert on the Today Show, Sunday columnist and published author, has over a decade of expertise to draw upon. She will be contributing reguakrly to Essential Kids on topics of helath and nutritionf for the whole family. Here is what she has to say about family mealtimes.
"Food provides more than the nutrients it contains. Food is part of our culture, part of our means of social interaction and one of the great pleasures of life. At least it should be.
The importance of eating together.
I feel incredibly sad when I talk to families who all eat separately, grabbing whatever they can as they rush to the next event in the day, with little thought as to what they are choosing to eat or any pleasure truly taken in the eating.
One of the things my mother was insistent about was that we all sat and ate together on most nights of the week around the dining table. This was time my parents heard our news, we honed the family banter and generally meals were a lot of fun. I’ve inherited that family table and can’t tell you how joyous it is to me to see my own kids now sitting at that table giggling (admittedly often fighting over their food!) while they tell me about their day.
If there is one eating behaviour I truly believe we should engage in is the joy of eating together at the table. Stop the day and take the time to enjoy at least the evening meal. You’ll eat less. You’ll eat better. And you’ll be so satisfied you won’t be searching the pantry to fulfill your empty ‘food spot’ later."
How important is family eating to you? Discuss on the Essential Kids Forum.
Read more on Dr Joanna's blog. http://www.drjoanna.com.au/category/blog/
