From the Extension: Savoring both food and family these holidays – Daily Commercial

The holiday season sparks a time for families to gather and share a meal. Gathering for family meals goes beyond special foods prepared and should be focused on the conversation and time shared.

There are many benefits to these meals together and should not be limited to a few times a year.The frequency of household family meals and those we can gather with weekly in-person or virtually can have an impact on our health and well-being. In-person gatherings offer a team approach to creating a meal.

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Involving everyone in the cooking, trying new foods, and encouraging a variety of food groups is a winning combination to creating excitement around mealtime. This variety encourages health with the opportunity for a range of vitamins and minerals at each meal that fuels our bodies to support our daily lives.

The choices we make have an impact on the eating behaviors and lifestyle we lead. Opting for healthier choices and focusing on portion size while not sacrificing flavor can help prevent high blood pressure, heart diseaseand diabetes. Planning meals together makes it a team effort to balance your plate with focusing on fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteinand dairy.

Flavoring meals with herbs and spices in place of salt can provide endless combinations to create delicious family favorite recipes. Cooking involves math, science, and reading skills and is a platform to develop essential life skills. Another benefit of eating together is the opportunity to be a role model or cheerleader for those you are dining with in person or virtually and is important at any age.

Mealtime offers a time to catch up on happenings in our lives and talk through any challenges or struggles a family member might be going through. Put away the technology unless you are connecting virtually and focus on listening to each other.

To mix up each mealtime, try using a conversation starter. You can use examples already created or each family member can create their own. Collect all the ideas into a container and pull one out at each meal. A few examples include: Name two things that you are thankful for today;if you could create one new tradition for our family what would it be;or what is one fun thing you hope to do in the next month?

Using a conversation starter may spark a conversation that you might never have and can help boost how we are feeling. This can be done for in-person and virtual meals together. Keeping the focus on time together and building a healthier plate will keep you connected, focused on what matters, and strive for better health together.

An Equal Opportunity Institution. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Andra Johnson, Dean and Director. Single copies of UF/IFAS Extension publications (excluding 4-H and youth publications) are available free to Florida residents from county UF/IFAS Extension offices.

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From the Extension: Savoring both food and family these holidays - Daily Commercial