In this day and age, meals spent together are becoming few and far between. For some, a "family" meal may mean eating with friends or a caretaker, but there is still value and tradition in the idea of bringing people together for a meal. Busy schedules often result in making "fast food" choices due to the idea that time is limited by school, work, errands, appointments, and after-school programs. Children and parents may be finding themselves with less and less time to prepare or participate in a healthy meal.

In addition to less time being spent together as a family, looming health concerns (diabetes, obesity, hyperlipedemia, etc.) are continually reinforcing the importance of healthy meals. There appears to be a connection between parents who prepare and consume healthy meals and foods in front of their children and children's likelihood to continue these healthy habits later in life.

Read the entire column and recipes at http://www.ncpad.org/478/2362/Nutrition~Spotlight~~Making~Family~Meals~a~Happy~and~
Healthy~Time.