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FAMILY MEAL TIME

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Frequent and consistent family meals may lead to stronger family unity (Fulkerson et al., 2006) and may also act as a protective factor against adverse adolescent experiences (Franko et al., 2008). These factors contribute to overall family well-being and the findings should be suggested to new parents looking to foster family connectedness and satisfaction. Sharing meals is a traditional aspect of living with others and the home environment is the primary place that influences the socialization of children (Harbec & Pagani, 2018). Our team would like to share meal time resources for families, such as recipes, ideas for themed meals, and child-friendly restaurants on the Central Coast.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • Family cohesion can be seen as a sense of closeness among family members as well as satisfaction of family activities (Olson et al., 1985, cited in Franko et al., 2008).

  • High levels of family cohesion, as opposed to conflict, promotes positive physical, mental, and emotional health (Martin-Biggers et al., 2017).

  • Family meals may present parents with opportunities to model family values and show support for their children (Fulkerson et al., 2006).

  • Researchers found that children who experienced more favorable family meal experiences were less likely to later on self-report aggressive behaviors such as: fighting, physically attacking, and threatening others (Harbec & Pagani, 2018).

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AT HOME MEAL IDEAS

RECIPES

1. Help your children turn your dining room into a pretend restaurant. Encourage them to make menus by handwriting or typing up what the family will be eating. Eat the meal in courses, like you would in a restaurant. Start with an appetizer or a “fancy” kid-friendly drink. Move on to the main course and then finish with dessert. Light candles and play music to set the mood.

BREAKFAST EGG CUPS

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These delicious egg cups are easy to customize for any tastebuds! Make them ahead and freeze them for a quick breakfast or snack.

2. Create a tradition with your family! Choose a night of the week that works best, and a meal that everyone loves. This way, each member of the family has something to look forward to every week. Examples: Taco Tuesday, Pizza Friday, pancakes every Sunday morning, etc.

3. S’mores night! Gather ingredients for s’mores: marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers, and sticks. Find a safe place to roast them in your home (fireplace or stove top). This one takes a little more parental assistance!

RASPBERRY ICE CREAM IN A BAG

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This is a delicious and easy way to make ice cream at home. Shaking the bag can also provide a sensory experience for young children!

EATING OUTSIDE THE HOME

SPOTS FOR PICNICS

  1. Dinosaur Caves Park in Shell Beach

  2. Terrace Hill in SLO (pictured)

  3. Spooners Cove in MDO

  4. Other spots on the Central Coast for picnics

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DINING OUT

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  1. Blaze Pizza - children can order exactly what they like (you can even do half and half if there are two young children who can only eat ½ a pizza)

    • Locations in: Santa Maria, Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, and Paso Robles

  2. Sylvester's Burgers - a family-friendly burger joint with a large menu that should cater to the entire family. Go to Sylvester's on your birthday to get a free burger. They'll even take a photo of you in a funky hat and hang it up on their walls!

    • Locations in: Oceano, Los Osos, and Atascadero​

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