“Did the mother feed them?” I asked my husband.

“I haven’t seen her come by lately,” he replied.

I looked out the window to catch a glimpse of our little backyard zoo. A mother rabbit had created a nest in my planter surrounded by my flowering purple impatiens.

We were trying to protect the baby rabbits from our two dachshunds and the three retrievers who live next door. We covered the planter and built a brick wall inside it to keep the rabbits inside as they grew. We even built a makeshift awning with two sawhorses and a cover held in place with bricks. I’m sure our neighbors think we are strange. I guess we are.

Granted, I don’t enjoy adult rabbits eating my flowers and vegetables.

“Where are the rest of the rabbits?” my husband asked one day.

I didn’t take the time to answer. I ran outside. Three had escaped, so I tried to put the remaining two in a box to bring to a wooded area. One leaped out of my gloved hands. The other one escaped from the box. I won’t be a zookeeper anytime soon.

I could almost hear the “Mission: Impossible” theme playing as we scoured the bushes looking for the fugitives. They had hoisted themselves over the brick wall in the planter.

The bunnies are on their own – just like our human kids who have left our nest. Parents of any species instinctively care for their young, and then eventually the “kids” grow up and take care of themselves.

I thought about the mother bunny returning a couple of times a day to feed them. We humans do more than offer nourishment during feeding times. Mealtimes offer more than food.

As summer has arrived and school is out, gathering children and teens of all ages around the dinner table has distinct advantages. Unfortunately, researchers have shown that family mealtimes have declined by about one-third over the last few decades.

Yes, people are busy with activities, work schedules and friend commitments. Food preparation takes time, requires shopping for ingredients and includes clean-up.  

The benefits of gathering family and friends around a meal at any time of the day far outweigh the costs. Researchers have been studying the advantages of family meals since the 1940s.

From a nutrition perspective, children tend to eat healthier meals when eating with their family. The meals are higher in fiber, rich in fruits and vegetables and feature fewer fried foods and sodas. As a result, more family meals are linked with fewer issues, including overweight and obesity.

Meals provide structure, and the children can feel safer and more secure. Children and teens who eat more often with their families tend to have better grades and vocabulary skills.

Social skills and relationships improve during family meals, especially if phones, TVs and other distractions are put aside. Many problems can be worked out in conversations around the family table. Family meals may enhance mental health for both the adults and the children.

Kids can help prepare meals. We have many resources to assist with family meals through North Dakota State University Extension: a free monthly Family Table newsletter, conversation starter cards and a variety of meal planning and preparation materials. See ndsu.ag/FamilyMeals-26 to access these items.

We all need healthy meals regardless of our living situation. Kids of all ages can learn valuable skills by helping with meal preparation. Simple meals made in a slow cooker or on a sheet pan can save time and fit a family budget. More importantly, they can bring people together around the table.

One-pan Chicken Fajitas

1 ½ pounds chicken breasts, cut into ½-inch strips
2 red bell peppers, sliced into strips
1 green bell pepper, sliced into strips
1 onion, sliced
3 tablespoons olive or canola oil
1 packet reduced-sodium taco seasoning
1 lime
10 whole-wheat tortillas
Optional toppings: shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream, avocado slices

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Sprinkle taco seasoning and drizzle olive oil into bowl with chicken, bell peppers and onion. Toss to coat. Spread contents on greased pan sheet; bake 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked. Squeeze lime juice over pan and serve with whole-wheat tortillas.

Makes 10 servings (one fajita per serving). Without added toppings, each fajita has 280 calories, 9 grams (g) fat, 20 g protein, 27 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber and 380 milligrams sodium.

(Julie Garden-Robinson, Ph.D., R.D., L.R.D., is a North Dakota State University Extension food and nutrition specialist and professor in the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences.)

NDSU Agriculture Communication – June 11, 2026

Source: Julie Garden-Robinson, 701-231-7187, julie.garden-robinson@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu