Family Dinner Time   If any thing has changed in the last generation, it's   the concept of the family dinnertime. It used to be   the entire family gathered around the table each   night to discuss the day's events and tomorrow's   plans. Due to busy schedules and long commutes,   many parents today feel it an accomplishment to   get home before their children's bedtime.   Good Parenting Action Points:   1) Realize that family dinnertime serves a purpose   far more important than eating a meal. It acts as a   super glue, bringing individual family members   together into a family unit, and makes children feel they're part of something bigger and more   important than just themselves.   2) If you serve take-home meals, don't always use   paper plates. Add some quick fixings of your own   and serve the food on dishes with metal silverware.         Eat At the Table   A recent study of children's eating habits from the   Baylor College of Medicine found the following:   - Children eat 42% of their dinners while watching   TV   - Overweight kids eat 50% of their meals in front ofhe TV compared with just 35% for normal-weight children     - Kids who eat dinner with their families eat more   vegetables and drink fewer sodas compared to   children who eat alone- Kids who eat with their families    were also more  likely to eat lower-fat foods than kids who eat by   themselves.   Good Parenting Action Point:   1) Make a serious effort to have your family eat   together each night.   2) The best place to have your family meals is at   the table, never in front of the TV.     Click here