You want your kids to be just as fit as you, right? Well,
quit missing family dinner—frequent family meals mean healthier eating and a
lower body mass index in children, according to a new review of 68 reports on
the subject by Rutgers.
Whether you're a schoolteacher or a pro athlete, we know how work gets in the way. So here are from tips on how to get dinner at home to the top of your to-do list.
If You're Always on the Go
"It's so inconsistent when I'm home because I'm traveling so much," says Kevin Robinson, professional BMX rider and dad of three (calling us from China). Beyond riding internationally, Robinson speaks at events all over the country, and is at the helm of his apparel company, Grindz. "When I'm home I try to time riding and events around my children's school day," he says. "They have no idea what I just ran around doing all day."
Your move: Try to book the afternoon flight, not the evening one, back from business travel. "If I get back too late, it's just one more day they don't see me," Robinson says. Got little guys? Steal Robinson's trick: "We count our days by 'night nights,' not days," he says. "If I'm going to be gone three days, that's only two nights."
If You Have Teenagers
Cook together. It requires communication, says Gary Erikson, co-owner and co-CEO of Clif Bar, and father of three -- including a teenager. Read: Teens will be forced to grunt a few words and descend from the bedroom. "One of the best side effects of preparing a meal with your family is that everyone is in the same space sharing an experience."
Your move: Speed things up by assigning duties -- one person sets the table, another tosses the salad, and someone else grills the fish. "When our family works together in the kitchen, we can have a meal ready to go and on the table within a half an hour," says Kit Crawford, Gary's wife and co-owner and co-CEO of Clif Bar.
If Your Job Is Demanding
"Working in software is competitive. It's intense. It requires lots of long hours," says Vic Gundotra, Senior VP at Google who oversees the company's social efforts, and father to two children. "It's also engaging -- it's easy to let the hours slip away." When you were a post-grad, hanging out with your office buddies until 10 p.m. was standard -- but with a family, that's just not possible, Gundotra says.
Source: http://living.msn.com/family-parenting/the-number1-habit-of-great-dads
Whether you're a schoolteacher or a pro athlete, we know how work gets in the way. So here are from tips on how to get dinner at home to the top of your to-do list.
If You're Always on the Go
"It's so inconsistent when I'm home because I'm traveling so much," says Kevin Robinson, professional BMX rider and dad of three (calling us from China). Beyond riding internationally, Robinson speaks at events all over the country, and is at the helm of his apparel company, Grindz. "When I'm home I try to time riding and events around my children's school day," he says. "They have no idea what I just ran around doing all day."
Your move: Try to book the afternoon flight, not the evening one, back from business travel. "If I get back too late, it's just one more day they don't see me," Robinson says. Got little guys? Steal Robinson's trick: "We count our days by 'night nights,' not days," he says. "If I'm going to be gone three days, that's only two nights."
If You Have Teenagers
Cook together. It requires communication, says Gary Erikson, co-owner and co-CEO of Clif Bar, and father of three -- including a teenager. Read: Teens will be forced to grunt a few words and descend from the bedroom. "One of the best side effects of preparing a meal with your family is that everyone is in the same space sharing an experience."
Your move: Speed things up by assigning duties -- one person sets the table, another tosses the salad, and someone else grills the fish. "When our family works together in the kitchen, we can have a meal ready to go and on the table within a half an hour," says Kit Crawford, Gary's wife and co-owner and co-CEO of Clif Bar.
"Working in software is competitive. It's intense. It requires lots of long hours," says Vic Gundotra, Senior VP at Google who oversees the company's social efforts, and father to two children. "It's also engaging -- it's easy to let the hours slip away." When you were a post-grad, hanging out with your office buddies until 10 p.m. was standard -- but with a family, that's just not possible, Gundotra says.
Your move: Prioritize.
"Men understand priorities," says Gundotra. "We make tradeoffs
all day. If family is as important to you as work is, then -- like you would
for any business priority -- you make it happen." Simply say, "I have
to leave, they're waiting for me." (Of course, the right approach also
helps.) Dinner together isn't just about quality time; it's about what the
quantity of that time adds up to. "You can make a lot of mistakes in
business and you can correct them -- it's very hard to go back and fix missing
time with your kids," Gundotra says.
Source: http://living.msn.com/family-parenting/the-number1-habit-of-great-dads
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