They say that “health is wealth.”  We agree.

But the usual hustle and bustle of the working world often present demands for parents and individuals who live alone. How do you balance your life?  Here are some ways that can help.

The Gift of Family

Share this Bible verse about the family: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!  He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127:3-5).

Our families are our first line of defence against going astray. With children, we also need to develop their skills and hone their confidence by spending time with them and giving them exactly what they deserve.

How do you do this?

Develop healthy bonding experiences that your children will grow to love, and one of the best ways is through food.

Having a healthful cooking system where your family can enjoy good meals and bond is a great way to start.

Talk to your children

Talk to your children and get to know them. What are their likes? What foods do they prefer? Are teenagers on some sort of new diet that you may also want to check out?

Try new meal plans with your family

Family mealFamily bonding should always be on a positive note. However, it may also help if you check out new things as a family. When you want your family to be healthy, some cooking skills could help you enjoy your time together.

Here are some diets plans that you can try with your family:

Mediterranean Diet

A recent study cited by US News on Health showed that the Mediterranean diet is the best diet for the family. According to the website, “the Mediterranean approach is an alternative to the typical over-processed, fat- and sugar-laden American diet and emphasizes fish, vegetables, beans, legumes and whole grains drizzled with olive oil. It’s nutritionally sound and appropriate for all ages.”

It is more of a new approach to healthful living and a lifestyle rather than a diet. Some people say that it is easier to follow this diet as a family than as an individual since it is built over an active family-oriented lifestyle. The diet mainly incorporates super healthy foods such as grains and fruits as well as healthy fats and non-starchy vegetables.

The best part about this plan is that it incorporates many different foods but is also very easy to prepare. You can do meal prep for you and your children for the whole week by making that big batch and spending time together in the kitchen.

DASH DIET

Family bondingThe DASH diet is a family-friendly meal plan that aims to decrease high blood pressure and keep people’s weight in check. The DASH diet lowers sodium and increases potassium. There is a lot of emphasis on fruit, vegetables, and grains, as well as any lean meat and fish.  The DASH diet is conventional yet very healthy.

Vegetarian Diet

You can also try the vegetarian diet by eliminating meat, fish, and poultry.  It can be a very family-friendly and healthy approach to life.

When done right, the vegetarian diet helps families ensure every member is healthy.  Children will have an easier time adjusting to a vegetarian diet early in life than when they have already reached adolescents or young adulthood.

Try a Cookbook

If you do not know where to start, you can always try a new cookbook.

Hearty Holiday Pleasers eCookbookOne of the best cookbooks that you can use is the Hearty Holiday Pleasers eCookbook from Creation Illustrated. According to its website description, it has the following:

  • 56 pages of delicious mouth-watering vegan recipes – if you are looking for a more vegan-friendly or vegetarian diet for you and your family, this release from Creation Illustrated is a great way to start.
  • More than 40 detailed recipes in FULL COLOR – if you do not know the first thing about what you are going to cook, you should make sure that you at least see what the food looks like. This is exactly what the detailed recipes in full color have to offer for you and your family.
  • Dazzling food preparation and decoration ideas – you will also be treated to amazing food preparation and decoration ideas like no other. It is a great way to determine which style works well for you and your children.

You can also open the digital page-turn eCookbook right on your computer or another device, or choose the Desktop version to view a scrolling PDF document so it will be easy to use even if you are not cooking at home.

Family bonding is easy with food

One of the best lessons that we have learned is the fact that family bonding is easier with food. You can easily see the beauty of life through your children’s eyes when they enjoy the food you serve them—especially when they are preparing it.

Eating together or preparing the food together helps create memories, kitchen skills, and healthy living.