It is not a debatable fact that health is wealth, and you are what you eat. The human body requires various minerals and nutrients to sustain the essential biological and biochemical processes that support life, and these come from the food we eat. While humans can last only a few days without eating, the kind of food you eat has an impact on your weight, appearance, and overall well being.
But when it comes to family, it gets even better. Nothing is more effective in strengthening family ties than regularly having a decent meal together, especially at dinner. Research actually suggests that it can help develop healthier eating habits, ease parenting stress, and even give a boost to your kids’ grades in school. All in all, it depends on what you prepare, serve, and present at the dining table each day. Basically, your servings need to be healthy, well-planned, and variable to avoid monotony, which is why dinner recipes are always all the rage amongst moms and dads who value family dinner traditions. On this note, here are some 6 healthy meals you can enjoy with your family:
1. Organic Animal Proteins
Animal proteins are one of the favorite parts of any meal for many families. They mostly come in red and white meat, with the latter being considered healthier and thus more preferred. While consuming meat every day might not be the healthiest of options, the benefits of this animal protein cannot be overlooked. Animal protein is known to have various benefits, including reducing appetite, increasing metabolism, boosting muscle mass, building stronger bones, and improving the supply of iron.
However, healthier animal protein sources should always be a priority as far as meats and meat products are concerned. Before you decide to treat your family with some beef jerky for lunch, pre-made pork ribs for supper, or sausages for breakfast, you will want to read more about organic meats and meat products. Most importantly, it’s best to get these from reputed sources that are well-established and stock only ethical and healthy options. After all, nothing matters more than your family’s health and well-being.
2. Whole Grain Meals
Whole grains include rice, beans, wheat, and oats, among others, some of which can be ground to produce flour which makes bread, pasta, and breakfast cereals. They are associated with numerous health benefits due to their high nutrient content and adequacy of fiber. They’re known to help in lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, as well as supporting healthy digestion and reducing the chances of high blood pressure. However, a high intake of refined grains may also lead to obesity and inflammation.
Whole grains do not have to be boring when having it. You can always make your meal tastier by preparing it just the way you like it; whether it’s boiling, frying, baking, or simply dipping in warm milk/water.
3. Fruits and Fruit Juice
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Health practitioners encourage you to take a lot of fruits and fresh fruit juice daily. They are highly rich in nutrients, including potassium, vitamin C, fiber, and folic acid that prevents vitamin A and C deficiency. People who take plenty of fruits also have a reduced risk of getting chronic illnesses. They are always great when taken a few minutes before or after the main family meal.
4. Vegetables
They are low in fats and protein and perfectly complement animal protein. They pack a lot of nutrition with minimal calories alongside vitamins and minerals. Whether cooked, salads, or smoothies, veggies are the only meal your body cannot seem to get enough of. In other words, you can eat veggies limitlessly with no harm. The fiber in veggies can make you fill up for less. Vegetables are available in a wide range of options so you can find different ways to prepare veggies and enjoy them with family each time. This is one of the healthiest eating habits you can foster in your family.
5. Low-Fat Diets
These are mostly dairy products. With the rising cases of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol these days, it will only be healthy for you to consider having meals that are low in fats. First of all, low-fat diets help you lose weight, which is healthy in most families. You can have a healthy meal with low-fat diets prepared from cheese, milk, yogurt, vegetable soup, and popcorn. For the sake of a healthy family, you can choose to have a low-fat diet as an accompaniment to a meal.
6. Desserts
Many people do not consider desserts as meals, but they are. You can have a dessert for a meal and fill up. In addition to containing calories, they also have several nutrients, including calcium, vitamin C, and antioxidants depending on the [particular desserts you go for. Some of them also pack us up with a lot of energy! That is why we are always advised to have a dessert after a meal and not feel guilty about it.
Well, this was not your regular recipe class. However, food is a unifying factor, especially when it’s healthy, nutritious, and delicious. In the few points above, we’ve covered just enough to help take the bond between you and your family a notch higher or keep it strong using the meals you share together.
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