October 11–13, 2012

Top Chef: Beyond the Meals

Chef Raymond Lee, Donna Lee

Did You Know?

• Did you know that family meal times can impact achievement? Sitting down to break bread with your family or friends goes far beyond eating.

• In fact, community development researchers suggest that everything from literacy to academic achievement may be impacted by the simple family practice of sharing meals together on a regular basis.

• Mealtimes include cooking, preparing, eating, and cleaning up after a meal. This is a discipline that can restore much needed balance to the family and bring more structure to your schedule.

• Take time to go beyond the meal, learn ways to protect meal times by implementing strategies that work, even for the super busy.

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Session Objectives

• At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

– Examine the research and benefits of mealtime traditions

– Use time management tools to protect your tradition

– Examine the role of meal planning for families and singles

– Identify tools and tips for preparation and planning

– Create a fall back plan

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Examine The Research and Benefits of Mealtime Traditions

• Family meals – benefit children and youth throughout the year

• They use this time to: – demonstrate and build connectedness among and between family

members – share information about activities they are involved in such as sports,

plays, etc. – share challenges they may be having at school, with friends or school

work – Share successes – Discuss plans for vacation and future events – Laugh, dream and sometimes even debate each other

Reference: http://blog.childtrends.org/2012/01/24/eat-and-be-merry-together-at-the-dinner-table/

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Reference: http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2012_01_01_FS_SharedMeals.pdf

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Reference: http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2012_01_01_FS_SharedMeals.pdf

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Reference: http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2012_01_01_FS_SharedMeals.pdf

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Reference: http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2012_01_01_FS_SharedMeals.pdf

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Time Management Tools That Can Protect Your Tradition

• Setting A

Consistent family

meal time agree

upon by all family

members

• Provisions to

inform if family

member can not

be on time.

Calendars of

family events

including meal

time placed in a

visible location

such as the

refrigerator door

“Human Bell Ringer” which represents one

of family member each week responsible for setting the table and call members to the

table to eat.

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Cell Phones Alarm

• Set your Alarm

for family meal

time

• You do it for

important

meetings don’t

you????

Your management tools will help you sustain your family traditions, help set priorities, allocate and distribute responsibilities throughout all family members.

Your Turn –Share a Pair time - Activity #1

• What are some management tools you have used that really work!

• Need 3 people willing to share 1 great idea from your pair!

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2

3

3 min.

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Role of Meal Planning for Families and Singles

• Impacts Budget

• Affords shared decision making – all members of family providing input in buying

groceries and planning meals –Weekly or monthly basis

• Portion Control – family discussions

• Innovative leftover menu strategy” to maximize budgets

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Another Look at the Impact and Benefits of Mealtime Traditions and Planning

Family Meal Time • Family gathering

Blessings of the Meal • Grace

“Washing Your Hands • Sanitation

• Reflects Value of family unity • Creates opportunity for

family talk time

Character Building Component • Evokes recognition and

respect of a deity • Promotes long term memory

• Ensures what you put in your body is clean

• Promotes healthy practices

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Health and Social Development Impact • A December 2010 study conducted by the

Department of Sociology at Texas A&M University, College Station entitled Mothers and meals: The effects of mothers' meal planning and shopping motivations on children's participation in family meals, found that when children participated in family meals there was a direct benefit on the health and social development of children.

Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20870001

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Top Chefs - Balance Their Life

Family

Traditions

Healthy

Meals &

Choices

Keeping The Family Balance

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Tools Use Can Use: Recipes – handouts

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• Achieve your

goal of protecting the family tradition with health snacks such as apples and apricots at the scheduled meal time

• “Be there” • All family members

are at the designated family meal time location

• Communication • Some form of

communication either call, text or email will be made to inform family members of any changes in family meal time tradition

My Personal Fall Back Plan

What Steps

To accomplish my goal.

My Goal: ’

Focus Areas

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Three individuals should be prepared to share their plan. Participants will select the “Top Chef”

10 min.

Chefs Lee’s For formula for Top Chefs

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Take Aways 1. Your Mission has to be Your Health and the Health of

Your Family.

2. As a “Top Chef” you must know why protecting the tradition of family meal planning is important and that it has a direct impact on our Healthy living!

3. Signing a family meal time contract will demonstrate your commitment as a family member to protect this precious tradition!

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Our Family Meal Time Contract

We, the __________________family are committed protecting our tradition of family meal planning because we value this tradition and recognize that it has a direct impact on our family’s healthy living. As a family we are committed to improving the quality of our life through maintaining healthy eating during our family meal time tradition . This commitment will help us make positive lifestyle choices. We accept the responsibility to make changes in our everyday routine protect our family meal time traditions.

________________________________________________

(Sign Name) Chef Raymond Lee Signed this _____ day of ______________________, 20__

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