Letter From Sean Burch

Dinner (The Return to the Family Meal)

When I was growing up, the one meal that our family always made sure we ate together was dinner.  This was the opportunity for us to gather around the table and eat quality, home-cooked meals and discuss what occurred during our individual day.  This time helped bring us closer together as a family. 

Unfortunately today, the family dinner is disappearing from our culture.  Late-meetings, both parents working, evening soccer practices for the kids, i.e. busy agendas . . . all compound to separate one another from joining for a family meal.  Many people think this is unfortunate, but that’s just the way it is in today’s society.  Are we better off for it?  I think not.  Here are some alarming, if not poignant statistics of the current trend going on in America’s homes during dinner hours:

• Only 66% of Americans eat dinner at home at least 4 times a week.
• When eating dinner at home, 46% go the take-out route like Italian or Asian food, or worse yet, 37% drive for fast food.
• The Bureau of Labor states that in 2003 the average American spent over $2,000 a year on eating out.  That’s per person!  The vast majority of these meals were at dinnertime. 
• 73% of pizza orders are placed at dinnertime, and 41% of total quick-service restaurant orders accounted for occurred at . . . you guessed it, dinnertime.
• In an early 2006 Harris poll, more than 3 in 5 parents wished their family spent more time eating together.

What’s so valuable about eating together as a family?  Statistics also reveal that 50% more vegetables and fruits are consumed when a home-cooked meal is prepared.  This is a vital component when encouraging healthy, sound nutrition within the family. The family meal encourages conversation, nutritious eating for our children, a sense of structure within the family, the sharing of ideas, and the assistance of bringing one another closer.  Plus, it’s a wonderful way to save the money frequently splurged for eating out, which can go towards an adventure, family vacations, and/or savings.

Also, more people are able to maintain proper weight management when they take the time to cook and prepare meals at home, where they can control everything that goes on their plate. As we’ve seen, tons of hidden junk ends up in the food of restaurants, as well as the convenience foods—as in microwave dinners, canned soups, and ordered pizzas. A simple meal of sautéing skinless boneless chicken in some olive oil, adding some garlic and oregano, chopping and grilling fresh organic vegetables can, viola, provide a tremendous, healthy meal complete in 20 minutes.  Processed foods and the quick take-out grab can be convenient, no doubt about it, but we are fooling ourselves and our body if we think these are the solutions to dinner in a time-crunch to make sure the family is fed.

The importance of protein during your dinner meal cannot be understated as well, especially if you are living the active, Hyperfitness lifestyle (I hope).  Eating the right protein enables the body to repair itself, recover quicker, and aids in performance levels.  I mention the “right” proteins because not all proteins are created equal.  Consistent meals of red meat will not do a body good in the long run.  Your protein source should come from lean, quality supply of such foods as fish, lean red meats (venison, buffalo, ostrich), chicken, tofu, nuts, beans, and turkey.  The more all natural and wild, the better.  In addition, watch how you prepare your foods—try and bake, steam, broil, grill, instead of frying.  Trim off all fat before cooking, avoid fried foods like the plague, and read all nutrition labels.

The best of Hyperfare meals begin with great ingredients, of course, like vegetables, meats, herbs and spices from your farmer’s market, CSA (community support agriculture) or natural foods store. If these ingredients are high quality, locally grown, organic and seasonal—try to hit on all four elements whenever possible—you’ll find it’s actually hard to screw up a tasty, nutritious meal.

The final pieces to the puzzle?  Contrary to what you’re used to, dinner should be the smallest meal of the day, so watch your portions. Family activities such as taking a slow stroll after dinner, aids in digestion and heats up your metabolism a little more. Also, don’t eat within two hours before going to sleep or you’ll shortchange your metabolism and get in the way of your digestion—which could keep you staring at the ceiling counting sheep instead of in the land of sleepy time.

Do you have some of your own ideas on how to bring the family together during dinnertime?  We’d love to hear from you, so please send an email.

Skål,
Sean Burch