"We never get a chance to sit down to a meal as a family"

What with work and after-school activities, we’re all getting so busy that family mealtimes are becoming a thing of the past. We know that families often eat in two or three different sittings in one evening.

Sitting down for a meal together every day may not be possible, but why not:

• Aim to eat as a family occasionally, even if it’s just once a week. Research shows that children who eat with their parents have a better diet than kids who eat on their own.
• Encourage turning the television off sometimes and sit round a table together to eat. First one to complain clears the dishes! First one to finish their plate gets to choose what you watch after they’ve cleared up.
• Encourage kids to help lay the table, prepare food and clear up. Better still, get them to help with the shopping list. Try asking them to choose five different-coloured fruit and vegetables. Chances are, they’re more likely to eat what you put in front of them if they feel it’s their food. [Tip: give them a shopping list with pictures of fruit and food to find in the store.]
• Experiment with healthier fast foods. If you seem to spend half your life ferrying your kids to and from friends, clubs and various sporting activities, why not pack them a picnic for the car? A sandwich (with ham or cheese and sliced tomatoes), a piece of fruit and a yoghurt make a much healthier meal than a burger on the run.