Taking the
Tension out of
Meal Time

Everyone is tired and hungry at the end of the day, so meal time is often a setting for family problems. For example, weary parents may view dinner as a chore, while cranky children refuse to eat.

Here are some things your family can focus on:

• Avoid snacking immediately before the meal

• Have a set meal time.

• Rotate responsibility for table setting, clearing the table and washing dishes.

• Eat together as a family with the television off, including dessert.

• Require that children request permission to leave the table.

• Serve children portions small enough for their age and size.

• Only require your children to eat or sample one non-desired food item per meal.

• Serve dessert only if your children have eaten enough dinner food and tasted a non-desired food item.

• If children refuse to eat at dinner time, remove the food without comment and do not offer another meal until the next scheduled family meal.