Friday Dinners That Will Bring Your Family to the Table!

It’s Friday and you’ve made it to the end of a long week! You’ve earned some quality family time and a delicious, healthy dinner. 

Research shows that bonding around the dinner table is not only fun, but it is also beneficial to your child’s health. A study published in the journal Pediatrics showed that children and adolescents who eat three or more family meals together a week have healthier dietary and eating patterns than those who don’t. 

It’s tempting to order takeout and call it a day, but there is a better way to approach Friday family dinners. The United Dairy Industry of Michigan/Milk Means More has nutrition tips along with quick, healthy and tasty recipes that you can whip up on Friday nights.

A healthier Friday night tradition

Start your healthy Friday family dinner tradition by committing to planning your meal ahead of time. With the right ingredients in the house, making a family dinner can be a breeze, not a chore. Do your grocery shopping earlier in the week so that you don’t have to slog through crowded stores on your way home before the weekend. Less stress also means more quality family time!

Getting the kids involved in the cooking process is another way to start Friday night off right. Engage them by having them stir or mix ingredients, shred cheese or other easy, age-appropriate tasks that keep them interested in the upcoming meal. Of course, always supervise little ones around the stove or with a cheese shredder. Another benefit of having your kids help prepare healthy food with you – they are more likely to develop healthy eating habits.

Once you have a rotation of Friday family dinner favorites, you can take turns picking the meal. After dinner, why not make Friday a movie, game or reading night? The meal can be just the beginning of some quality downtime together.

The benefits of adding dairy to dinner

Adding dairy to your dinner has excellent nutrition benefits. Dairy foods like cheese, yogurt and milk offer protein and calcium and fill your family up with goodness rather than making them crave junk later on in the evening. 

Another benefit of adding dairy to your Friday family dinner? It adds flavor and a delicious creamy texture that will help kids dig in. 

If you’re concerned about the fat in cheese, current research shows that saturated fats from dairy foods may not affect the cardiovascular system the same way as others. The saturated fats in cheese may actually help prevent strokes and protect against heart disease.

Don’t forget to serve milk at the dinner table. It has the same amount of calcium as 10 cups of raw spinach and it’s much easier to convince your kids to consume.

And if you are wondering about sustainability, be assured that Michigan farmers are committed to sustainable dairy nutrition. In fact, the carbon footprint of dairy milk today is 63% smaller than in 1944.

Ready for some recipes? The following are courtesy of the United Dairy Industry of Michigan/Milk Means More. You can find these recipes and many others at the Milk Means More website.

These yummy, healthy and quick-to-make dishes will become part of your Friday night family time. Plus, all recipes below take 30 minutes or less to make! 

Main Dish Recipes:

Chicken Caprese Skillet All the goodness of a Caprese salad: fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil tops juicy chicken for an Italian-inspired meal.

Skillet Macaroni and Cheese The addition of chicken, veggies and herbs makes this a hearty and healthy spin on a kid favorite. 

Mexican Lasagna Your favorite Mexican flavors in a homey baked dish that will warm you right up as the nights get colder.

Detroit-Style Pizza Make your own at home! You’ll be surprised by how easy it is — and the flavor is much better than anything you could order. Add a big green salad for a complete meal.

Sweet Treats:

Red Velvet Cheesecake Greek yogurt gives this more-ish dessert its tangy bite. Don’t forget the rich cream cheese frosting!

Double chocolate milkshake The chocolate lovers in the family will love this ice cream treat and best of all, it takes just five minutes to make. 

This content is sponsored by United Dairy Industry of Michigan / Milk Means More. Learn more at milkmeansmore.org.

Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s How to Get Kids to Eat Healthy.