The best New Year's resolutions for the family (Family Wellness Resolutions)

As the New Year approaches, the main thing that comes to our minds is things like "I need to lose weight this time" and "I need to stop eating junk food." These are really important resolutions. But what often happens is that after two or three days, all of these are forgotten, right? But what if we think a little differently this time? Instead of just you working hard alone, what if the whole family gets together, makes small changes , and thinks about how everyone can be healthy together?

A small change can have a big impact.

When you try to make big changes all at once, things get stuck. So let's be very practical. The simplest thing you can do is have the whole family eat together.

Imagine, you come home late from work, your children come home late from tuition, and maybe your husband eats at a different time. Everyone eats at different times. This is common to many families in our country.

But let's see if we can change this habit a little.

• Can you add a salad or some extra vegetables to the meal you're already making?
• Is there one day a week where everyone can stay home together and sit down for dinner?

This will be a little difficult at first. It's not easy to find time with everyone's work. But start with one day a week . Then, if possible, try increasing it to two or three days. If it's not possible during the week, try to have dinner together on the weekends. Let's see how much better things will be than you think with this small change.

Why is eating together so good for your health?

Researchers say that eating together as a family, especially dinner, is incredibly good for everyone's health. A study conducted at Harvard Medical School found that children who eat together as a family have healthier eating habits than those who don't.

This research looked at the eating habits of 16,000 children aged 9-14. One thing that was clear was that children who ate with their parents:

• Fast food and soda consumption is very low.
• Eating too many fruits and vegetables.

As a result, the amount of saturated fats and carbohydrates that spike blood sugar levels in those children's bodies is reduced. Simply put, the risk of developing diseases like diabetes and hardening of the arteries in the future is reduced.

This also helps you become a good parent.

The family dinner table is not just a place to fill your stomach. It is a very important place in parenting . Research conducted by Columbia University has consistently shown that young children who regularly eat together with their parents are much less likely to smoke, use drugs , and drink alcohol .

This shows that parents are interested in their children's lives and care about them. This is a great opportunity for children to talk about their day, their problems, and their happiness.

What do children really need?

As young children grow up, they show feelings like, "We don't need our parents, let us be alone." But that's not really what they're really feeling. Deep down, they expect their parents to look out for them, to make them feel loved. Even though they may be reluctant when we set rules for them, ask them, "Where are we going, when are we coming back?", deep down, they see it as a feeling that "Our parents are looking out for us, and they value us."

Another study found that children who regularly eat meals with their families have significantly higher levels of emotional health than other children . They are also less likely to engage in violent behavior.

But how exactly do you do this?

It's also important to make the family dinner table a happy place. Otherwise, children will be reluctant to join in. Here are some tips for that:

• Turn off the TV: It's important for everyone to pay attention to each other during this time. Put the TV and phone away.
• Don't make this a place to solve problems: Don't use this time to vent your anger, scold your children, punish them, or ask questions. Make this a place to have light conversations and share the details of the day.
• Let children talk: Encourage them to talk about something interesting that happened during the day, details about school, about their friends, and anything else they are interested in.
• Light a small lamp: This isn't scientific, but lighting a small candle and placing it on the table creates a very calming and beautiful feeling. It adds a different kind of beauty to the dining table.
• Cook together: If possible, involve your children in the preparation of meals. Small things like making a salad or bringing the dishes to the table will help them feel like they are part of the process.

If you have any concerns about your child's nutrition, behavior, or mental health, talk to your family doctor (doctor) . He or she will be able to give you the right advice.

Family health, New Year's resolutions, eating together, children's nutrition, mental health, family relationships, adolescence