Healthy Cooking With “The Family”
When I was growing up, going out to eat to McD's was a treat, mainly because it was so rare. Today, it's more of the norm, or the expectation. And, if you look around, we as a nation have a lot of unhealthy kids. [I will also stress this is totally my opinion].
If you're a parent, ESPECIALLY if you're a father, I truly feel it's YOUR responsibility to ensure the health of the family, as individuals AND as a family unit. Am I being harsh, yup, but too bad. You want to yell at me? Go right ahead. BUT, please look in the mirror first before you do.
Let me ask you this, how many times have you and your family gathered in the kitchen and prepared a meal together? Or, take it one step back, how many times has your family WATCHED you prepare a meal in the kitchen?
I bring this up because as much fun as going to a fast food joint may be, preparing meals at home, with the entire family, can be an even funner treat! (yes, funner isn't a word but you get my drift).
The meal doesn't have to be anything fancy, or even healthy, to start off with. I say this because once you get into the habit of doing this activity as a family unit, you as a parent will eventually think towards the healthier side of cooking, so we'll accept the unhealthy thing for now, ok?
I grew up in an Italian household so having people in the kitchen and around the kitchen table was always a way of life for me. Even to this day. When I'm at my parent's house, I'm always poking around the kitchen seeing what mom and dad (yes, my dad cooks too) have going on the stove. It's still as fun as it always was.
I talk about Fitness and Health quite a bit, as I'm sure you've guessed. Let me ask you, is having the family unit all together doing something healthy for that family? (and I'm not talking about sitting around watching TV either!) Of course it is. Then maybe you should try it and see what comes out of it.
June 11, 2010
Posted in: Uncategorized
6 Responses
Andrew
I strongly believe that we are first responsible for healthy eating to ourselves. the role model for kids of healthy eating adults is likely to be very strong.and lasting.
I must be a lot older than you. We didn't even have a McDonalds.
Eating out is still a rare treat for us. I enjoy cooking and eating together. It must be the Italian in me. I like having a time in the day that is dedicated to spending time together.
Luckily my daughter and her husband love to cook too. The have carried on the tradition of eating at home.
I like your suggestion of starting out as it being a fun treat and working into healthy meals.
Hey Nice post for sure. Would like to have some more post on cooking in a family atmosphere.
Adding to the debt here is a post that I wrote about cooking time from last few century which is a real scary fact.
http://www.e-swastya.com/2009/05/cooking-time-scary-facts.html
Thanks
Hello from Montana:
Love your post. I write and speak about family relationships and family meals is certainly a good guage of family connection.
Let me know what we can do to support one another.
Judy H. Wright friend from #blog30
Thanks for the comments everyone! Keep checking back because something big will be happening soon and, if all goes as planned, video will be going up as well. LOVE the Family and LOVE cooking!
I especially like your use of the term "family unit", Andrew. It seems that the traditional way of life where the family sat down to a meal has become rare because of everyone's busy lives. This has had more far-reaching effects on the family because everyone does their own thing at different times.
It's great that you have those wonderful memories because sadly many children don't. Thanks for a really meaningful post.
Yvonne
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