Hectic lives inevitably lead to hectic eating habits. For busy parents, there always seems to be too much going on and not enough time to do it all, especially when it comes to making nutritious meals for the family. Far too often this crisis-mode living leads to unhealthy eating habits.  

The food we eat doesn’t just provide us with energy; each piece of food we put in our mouths is either building up or tearing down our health and immune system. A bagel gulped down the go is more of an act of stuffing yourself to stave off hunger than anything approaching nutritious eating.

A leisurely dinner with family or friends, on the other hand, is altogether different. It’s not only psychologically beneficial because of the time you’re spending bonding and sharing with the ones you love but it’s healthier, too. Having the opportunity to eat slowly and chew each bite aids immensely in proper digestion. Enjoying a glass of wine or dessert adds pleasure to the experience and, some argue, additional gastronomic benefits.

Above all, when you’re eating in a relaxed and mindful mode, you’re far more likely to avoid over-eating because you will naturally stop when you feel full. The experience of eating wholesome meals with the people we care about does more than fill our stomachs - it fills our souls.

We often associate the busy person’s “cooking” with the trappings of the frozen food aisle. The tremendous amount of chemical preservatives, salt and fat that go into keeping these frozen foods fresh and tasting good, however, is a real caveat. They benefit the preservation of food, not the health of the human body.

By now most of us are familiar with the pitfalls of fast food – high calories, high fat, high cholesterol and huge serving sizes. For the sake of convenience, however, these hazards are often overlooked, particularly when its 6:00 p.m., you’re on your way home from a harried day at work and the question burns in your mind, “What’s for dinner?” Even the strongest among us can crack and under that kind of pressure.

Consumed frequently however, this kind of food is a recipe for developing life threatening diseases like obesity and adult onset diabetes. What’s worse is that when parents model this behavior, it sets their children up for a lifetime of health problems and weight issues. Your children learn their eating habits from you. Even in a hectic life, time must be taken to model healthy behavior.

When you make food at home, you control what goes into it, how much fat and salt it has and how much you make. You can add or delete what you want. You’re in control. Whether you add a piece of fruit each to your diet each day, drink a few extra glasses of water, try a new low fat recipe or eat whole grain bread instead of white, you can make small efforts each day that will have a big impact on your health and that of your family.