Put some of the joy back into your holiday by keeping gift-giving simple (and tasty!).

December is a favourite month for many people, but getting ready for the holidays can be stressful. Running around to pick out gifts or worrying about how much money to spend can take the enjoyment out of the season.

Put some of the joy back into your holiday by keeping gift-giving simple (and tasty!). Here are a few gift ideas for family and friends:

Give a hot cocoa basket. Fill an inexpensive basket with hot cocoa mixes, small marshmallows and a pair of holiday cups. Include a few peppermint candy sticks for stirring.

Give a jug of apple cider tied with a festive bow. Include hot apple cider spice mix and cinnamon sticks for stirring. For elderly relatives, give frozen individual meals that can be reheated at a later date. They might also enjoy small loaves of quick breads or packages of homemade cookies, cupcakes or muffins.

Find heirloom gifts in your cupboards. Share history with family members by passing down gifts such as serving bowls or plates, creamer and sugar sets, salt and pepper shakers, tablecloths, candlestick holders or serving utensils.

Create your own cookbook. Write down your favourite recipes on decorated recipe cards or create electronic versions. Include recipes from your childhood or ask family members to share some of their favourite

recipes. Place the cookbook into a pie plate or cake pan that is needed for one of the recipes.

Give a snack basket. Line a basket with a pretty towel and include healthy snack items such as peanuts, low-fat whole-wheat crackers, popcorn, granola bars, beef jerky or fresh fruits.

These suggestions should whet your appetite to create special and affordable gifts.

– Mary Caskey is a health and nutrition educator with University of Minnesota Extension.

The post Affordable Gifts They’ll Eat Up appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Sharing a meal together provides families the time to connect and learn what is happening in each other’s lives. It offers an opportunity for parents to share their values and discover what is important to their children.

According to the National Center on Addiction & Substance Abuse from Columbia University, there are many positive outcomes for children and teens who partake in family meals on a regular basis. Compared to kids who have fewer than three family dinners per week, children and teens who have frequent family dinners are:

Likelier to get better grades in school.

At 70 per cent lower risk for substance abuse.

Half as likely to try cigarettes.

Half as likely to be daily cigarette smokers.

Half as likely to try marijuana.

One-third less likely to try alcohol.

Half as likely to get drunk monthly.

Less likely to have friends who drink alcohol and use marijuana.

Almost 40 per cent likelier to say they won’t ever use drugs.

Family mealtime can help children develop socialization and communication skills by listening to others and contributing to the conversation. Eating together can foster a sense of security and belonging which is vitally important to children.

Family mealtime is a perfect occasion for children to learn how to set the table, prepare food and clean the dishes. Parents are able to role model healthy eating habits and table manners during family meals. Children who eat together with their parents are more willing to try new foods and overall have a healthier diet. According to Project EAT, from the University of Minnesota, children consume more calcium, iron, fibre and vitamins B6, B12, C and E when they eat during family meals.

Keep meals simple. It’s more important to spend time together than to dine on extravagant meals that take a long time to prepare. To encourage conversation, turn off the television and let the answering machine pick up messages. It’s important to keep the mealtime pleasant so children will want to spend time eating with their families.

– Mary Caskey is a health and nutrition educator with

University of Minnesota Extension

The post Family mealtimes are important appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.