Beckwith and Assimon regularly take their children swimming and to gymnastics and dance classes. For Debbie Bolla, who has a demanding job as a computer systems trouble-shooter for a large corporation, physical activity is limited. Bolla's favorite family activity is a relaxed after-dinner walk. Eat as a family Eating at home helps create a stable, nurturing family life, Bolla believes. She sees mealtime as an opportunity to teach her children about values, like being kind and polite, not making fun of other kids and expressing feelings appropriately.
Dinner is simple.
A sample menu is cut-up fresh fruit, vegetables cooked in the microwave and a hamburger. ADA's ongoing Child Nutrition and Health Campaign is dedicated to helping parents find ways to use family meals and physical activity to convey values and raise healthy children. The Chicago-based American Dietetic Association is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. With nearly 70,000 members, ADA serves the public by promoting nutrition, health and well-being. See ADA's Child Nutrition and Health Campaign for related research articles, fact sheets, games and more.