Tag: benefits of family meals
Help! My Child Will Only Eat One Food
Tips for surviving those toddler food jags! Guest Post By Laura Hoover, RD When my son was a baby, he was a great eater. He’d eat pretty much anything I put in front of him. All those tricks-of-the-trade I had learned in my nutrition classes were working! I was a ... more
Read moreHow to Toss Beans Into Family Meals
Three tasty bean tips you can count on! By: Jodie Shield, RD Beans are a great source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, but many kids – mine included- wish they could toss them out the window like Jack’s mother did in “Jack and the Beanstalk.” But, with a little kitchen ... more
Read moreTop Ten Table Manners for Kids
The holidays are here! Time to help your kids brush up on their table manners By: Jodie Shield, RD When my son, Michael, was five, kindergarten met for only a couple of hours in the afternoon (a so called half-day!). That was fine by Michael, because he and his best ... more
Read moreTop 4 Reasons For Eating Family Dinners
The Power of the Family Dinner Hour! By: Jodie Shield, RD If your family dinner is constantly being bumped by other activities like soccer practice or volunteer meetings, you may want to reconsider your priorities. Research has shown that when families eat together at least five times a week, both ... more
Read moreHow To Get Your Family To Eat Breakfast
Beat-the-clock breakfast tips! By: Jodie Shield, RD Daycare, school, work – for today’s busy families, the morning rush hour is about more than traffic. Everyone is in a mad dash to finish homework, brush their hair and teeth, and pack lunches before racing out the door. Squeezing in a quick ... more
Read moreTop 4 Fresh Cooking Herbs
Tips and recipes for enjoying the salt-free flavor of fresh herbs. By: Jodie Shield, RD This summer I grew my very first herb garden. My family was skeptical because while I can cook, they know I don’t have a green thumb. Guilty as charged! That’s why I decorate my house ... more
Read moreHungry or Satisfied? Rate Your Appetite
Use a hunger scale to help you and your kids learn when to put down that fork! By: Jodie Shield, RD Hunger Games. Kids and adults play them all the time. You know what I mean – nibbling when you’re bored or pigging out at a party. Your appetite ... more
Read moreTop 5 Beat-the-Clock Breakfast Tips
Rise and Shine It’s Breakfast Time! By: Jodie Shield, RD Did you know that on any given day 20 to 30 percent of kids skip breakfast? This is unfortunate given that breakfast really is for champions in and out of the classroom. Kids who eat breakfast have so many ... more
Read moreDo You Know Your Beans?
By: Jodie Shield, RD Beans belong to the family of plants known as legumes, of which there are about two thousand varieties all over the world. Beans are a key ingredient in many ethnic foods. Hummus (pureed garbanzo beans mixed with seasonings) is a popular dish in the Middle ... more
Read moreHealthy Families Eat Beans
By: Jodie Shield, RD While beans may not be magical enough to grow a fairy-tale beanstalk, they do work their own kind of magic on our health. Several studies suggest that eating beans may prevent heart disease, reduce one’s risk of developing colon cancer, and help to control diabetes. Although ... more
Read more



