The Disappearing Dinner Act

I think that the American family dinner has gotten lost in the wake of dual income families, parents who "over activity" their kids and themselves to death, and just plain laziness. I'm a working mom and I strongly believe that one of the best things I can give my kids is a home-cooked meal. That's not to say that I never stop by Chicken Express or Taco Casa on the way home from work, but home-cooked meals definitely outnumber fast food meals in our house. A lot of parents are so busy keeping up with their kids' extracurricular activities, homework, their own jobs, church activities, etc. that they don't feel that they have the time or the energy to cook a homemade meal.


It all boils down to giving your kids the basics...stability, healthy food, and love. I spend every Sunday afternoon preparing meals for the week and more often than not, the kids will pitch in and help. It becomes a creative thing and amounts to quality time together that provides a great result. Yes, it's time-consuming, but it's cheaper and healthier than the alternatives. Growing up in a Slovenian home (my parents are first-generation Americans) meant lots of fresh vegetables from the garden and simple, healthy dishes. My parents carried on many of the food traditions that their parents brought from the Old Country and taught them to us. Not only did we eat well, but we established meaningful traditions that we have passed on to our own kids.


Cooking a homemade meal doesn't have to be anything extravagant or time-consuming. Slather a whole chicken with olive oil and rosemary and pop it in the oven and serve it with steamed broccoli, for example. Involve your kids while they're young and make it fun for them. They'll learn healthy eating habits early and will learn a valuable skill. I tease my son and tell him that the ability to cook is a definite chick magnet.


My daughter brought home a Mothers Day questionnaire that she had filled out at school. One of the questions was, "What does your mom do for you that you like the most?" She answered, "She cooks great food for me." That said it all.