At the bar. Standing next to the fridge. In stages throughout the night.
Is this the way your family eats dinner?
With all those busy family schedules – work, school, play and all that in between – it keeps us from being what we are supposed to be – a family!
The Family Dinner Project seeks to help all of us to get back to the things that matter like food, fun and conversation at mealtime. A program led by Project Zero at Harvard, the FDP is full of recipes, conversation starters and research to back up the basic concept that a family meal is good for the spirit, brain and health of a family. Actually 15 years of research shows families that eat together experience:
- Better academic performance
- Higher self-esteem
- Lower risk of substance abuse
- Lower risk of teen pregnancy
- Lower risk of depression
- Lower likelihood of developing eating disorders
- Lower rates of obesity
So now that you know that you know that dinner time together is a good thing – give them something they can’t resist at dinner…fried chicken and macaroni and cheese!
But since it is a new year and a new you and you want to help your whole family be healthier, here are a few twists we’ve made to make sure that dinner doesn’t just taste a-mazing, but is also healthy, too!
I’ve taken fried chicken to new heights with this gluten-free oven fried chicken that uses gluten-free cereal for a crispy crust. And don’t worry, I didn’t forget the sauce either! Paired with this copy-cat signature recipe from a certain chicken spot that has an affinity for cows, you will be making this recipe again and again – and finding new reasons to put this sauce on everything. Add a little (or a lot) gluten-free mac n cheese (with a little healthy twist of winter squash), you will love your time together – eating, talking and just being together.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
That mac & cheese with veggies sounds awesome. And it’s a great way to sneak those veggies in.
lisa says
The mac and cheese looks so good! Definitely something I will have to try!!
Jennifer says
And that’s dinner! Thanks for sharing these awesome recipes.
Kelly Hutchinson says
I am always looking for new gluten free recipes. The veggies and mac and cheese sounds so yummy.
Amber Edwards says
It’s funny, I grew up with the entire family having dinner together at the table. It was such a shock to me after we had kids to find out that most families don’t do that anymore. We still do. And I love it because it’s one of the few times when we all get to be together.
Nancy @ Whispered Inspirations says
Wow, I can’t believe they are gluten-free. They look amazing, my daughters would especially love the mac and cheese.
Pamela :: Still Dating My Spouse says
I love mac n cheese. Thank you for these recipes.
Tammilee Tips says
Dinner as a family is very important and helps to stay connected. Even though its just John and I we make it a point to eat together.
Liz Mays says
I always loved having family meals. The mac and cheese would be a family favorite!
Ann Bacciaglia says
That Mac and Cheese looks so good. I will have to try making it for the kids as a surprise. They will love it!
Meagan says
We LOVE Mac and Cheese at our house! Your mac and cheese looks amazing! I love eating dinner with the family – great lasting memories!
Amy says
This sounds like a great set of gluten free meals! My daughter is gf so these are perfect for her!