Peggy R. Anderson

Extension Agent

October 27, 2010

National Eat Better, Eat Together Month 

October is National Eat Better, Eat Together Month and when families eat together, meals are likely to be more nutritious and kids who eat regularly with their families are less likely to snack on unhealthy foods and are more likely to eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Beyond health and nutrition, family meals provide a valuable opportunity for children and parents to reconnect. When adults, children and teenagers eat together children do better in school, have fewer behavioral problems, and communication improves. When is the last time you sat down and ate a meal with your family? If you cannot remember, October is a great time to start having a meal with your family as often as you can. Check out the following tips to make family meals happen at your house.

Tips on How to have more Family Meals:

Schedule Family Meals.

·         To plan more family meals, look over the calendar and choose a time when everyone can be there. Figure out which obstacles are getting in the way of family meals and see if there are ways to work around them.

·         Even if it is only once a week, making it a habit to have family meals once a week is a great start and you can work your way up to 2 to 3 times a week.

·         Don’t forget that breakfast and lunch are meals as well; there are no rules that say family meals should only happen in the evening.

Prepare Meals Ahead of Time.

·         It is important to make a shopping list and make time to go to the grocery store so you

·         have foods on hand to create meals.

·         Try doing some prep work for meals on the weekend to get ready for the week ahead. On a night when you have extra time, cook double and put one meal in the freezer so there is a backup plan for busy nights.

·         Remember that a meal at home does not have to be complicated or take a long time.

Involve Kids at Family Meals.

·         Family meals can be fun and it is important to involve kids in them.

·         Younger kids can put plates on the table, pour beverages, or fold napkins.

·         Older kids can get ingredients, wash produce, mix, and stir. You could even have your teens be the cook for a night and you could be their helper in the kitchen.  

During mealtime, make your time at the table pleasant and enjoy being together as a family. Remember to keep your interactions positive at the table. Ask your kids about their days and tell them about yours. Give everyone a chance to talk. If you cannot remember the last time you sat down for a family meal, take the time this October to start a family tradition of eating together and eating better.

NDSU Offers Sexting Seminar for Parents, Caregivers

Two thirds of American teens have their own cell phones, but what exactly are they doing with those phones?

While cell phones represent independence and communication for the users, the advent of text and picture messaging has led to some teens sending and receiving sexually charged messages.

According to a recent study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, as many as 39 percent of teens today are “sexting,” which is sending or posting messages that are sexually suggestive. That includes posting on sites such as Facebook, MySpace and the more recently developed Twitter, or sending text or picture messages to individuals.

The North Dakota State University Extension Service has developed a seminar for parents and caregivers titled “Sexting: What Every Caring Adult Should Know.” The seminar strives to build awareness of the risks and repercussions of sexting and assist adults in helping teens make informed, ethical decisions about how they use their mobile technology.

Teens offer various reasons for sexting: it is fun, it is flirty, they were pressured to do it by peers, they were proving their commitment to a relationship, they were seeking attention or they were feeling risky. Most sexting occurs between dating couples, but sometimes sext messages are sent to crushes, friends, people who teens have met only online or even complete strangers.

While sext messages usually are meant for one person’s eyes only, they can become very public if that person decides to forward the picture to some friends, who forward the picture to other friends. Messages even could end up in front of unintended audiences, such as college admissions representatives or future employers. Sexting can become hazardous to a person’s reputation both privately and publicly.

That’s why parents should talk to their teens about their messaging activity and discuss the benefits and challenges.

This should not be a one-time conversation, however. Parents should find out how and with whom their teens are communicating. Caregivers should set expectations for their teen’s texting and picture messaging habits and discuss what kind of image they may be projecting to other parties who might be viewing their communications.

For more information on this subject or to participate in a sexting seminar, contact your local Extension office, Burke County at 377-2927 or Divide County at 965-6501.

Schedule

Wednesday, October 27 – Burke County

Thursday, October 28 – Divide County

Friday, October 29 – Burke County

Sunday, October 31 – Divide County 4-H Awards/Recognition Event

Monday through Thursday, November 1 - 4 - Fargo, Fall Extension Conference