October 31, 2007 by Katharine Branham - Archive of Katharine’s Articles
Well, it seems the cold weather is rolling in. And with it comes cold and flu season. This in itself is a good reason to eat more meals at home. That quick trip through a drive-thru could leave you spending a small fortune at the doctors. We as moms and dads should protect our families with wholesome snacks and meals prepared at home. After all, you know your hands and kitchen are clean.
Here are some suggestions to keep the family focused on eating more meals at home. Designate certain evenings each week when the children assist in meal preparation. It will give your children a new found self-esteem while giving you a smile or two. Encourage them to help set the table. Ask the children to use their imagination when decorating.
If you’re short on time, use the old standby -- a crock pot. My girlfriend has managed to master its use in making gourmet style meals that her family can’t resist. If you’re not comfortable with that idea, try to find meals that take 30 minutes or less to prepare.
There is a grocery near my home that hosts in-store demonstrations. This allows me to sample items of interest before attempting to prepare them at home. Many of the meals are fairly quick and easy, which is certainly a blessing when five o’clock rolls around with the chore of cooking and racing out the door for karate class.
As for snacks, carry something healthy in your console to offer the children when they beg for drive-thru junk food. I pack things like Gerber fruit chews which are solid fruit with no outer coating. They are much healthier than typical fruit chews loaded with those words none of us can pronounce. My eleven year old carries them to school and her friends have even had their parents start buying them. These are just one item I have to hide and ration out or they would all be eaten in one setting. One of my favorite snacks is dry fruit chips. They can be found in the healthy section of a grocery store. The peaches and apples seem to go over big with kids. Whatever you do, don’t forget the fruit. When you make a habit to eat fruit your kids will follow.
Using your kitchen during cold and flu season will minimize exposure to germs that can cause illness.
