Love is in the air this week and we’re celebrating with family meals! Eating together at home improves nutrition and brings you closer together as a family when you turn off electronics and tune in to each other. This week, we’ve compiled red or chocolate themed recipes keeping in the spirit of Valentine’s Day to help you fall in love with family meals.

Count on Cupid for a family meal of Tuscan Tomato Turkey Burgers, Orzo with Spinach and Tomatoes and Strawberry Banana Blasts for dessert. Keep love in the air and family meals on the menu all week long with Citrus-Ginger Roasted Beets, Easy Skillet Sausage and Penne Supper, Cocoa Crusted Pork Tenderloin and Roasted Bananas with Chocolate Yogurt Cream. Register at http://www.mealsmatter.org/ to add these and other recipes to your personalized family meal plan and shopping list.

“Family Meals Matter” features registered dietitian-approved recipes from the thousands of user-contributed recipes available at the free family-nutrition and meal-planning website, http://www.mealsmatter.org/, maintained by registered dietitian moms with Dairy Council of California. Healthy Eating Made Easier™

Photo Caption:  Tuscan Tomato Turkey Burgers, Tomato Products Wellness Council.

Winter weather does not have to mean an end to fresh produce. While the variety is not quite as bountiful as in spring or summer, some foods do reach peak ripeness during winter months. 

When combined with fall foods that store well, like apples, pears and potatoes, it’s easy to eat in season this week with wonderful, winterful recipes. Need fresh produce storage tips? Visit the produce storage page on www.MealsMatter.org at http://ht.ly/8TTFY

Feed your family a wonderful, winterful meal of Root Vegetable Gratin, Sunday Roast Chicken with Giblet Gravy and Cinnamon-Stewed Apples. Explore other winter produce all week long with Polenta with Winter Squash, Gorgonzola and Walnuts, Roasted Pears with Cheddar Crumble, Lower Fat Parsnip and Potato Casserole and Hashed Brussels Sprouts with Lemon Zest. Register at www.MealsMatter.org to add these and other recipes to your personalized family meal plan and shopping list.

“Family Meals Matter” features registered dietitian-approved recipes from the thousands of user-contributed recipes available at the free family-nutrition and meal-planning website, www.MealsMatter.org, maintained by registered dietitian moms with Dairy Council of California. Healthy Eating Made Easier™

Photo Caption:  Root Vegetable Gratin, EatingWell.

Whether you tune in for football or the ads, Super Bowl Sunday is a day-long celebration for many families. Often, pizza and wings, potato skins, dips, chips and other high-fat, sodium-rich foods sideline healthy eating during the game.

This year, get ready for some football with healthier versions of fan-favorite foods. Serve your family a slimmed-down Buffalo Chicken Casserole, Crunchy Pear and Celery Salad and Spiced Iced Tea for a meal full of familiar and festive flavors. Tailgate healthfully all week long with Touchdown Taco Salad, Loaded Twice- Baked Potatoes, Fluffy Orange Fruit Dip and Tangy Barbecue Pizza.

Register at MealsMatter.org to add these and other recipes to your personalized family meal plan and shopping list.

“Family Meals Matter” features registered dietitian-approved recipes from the thousands of user-contributed recipes available at the free family-nutrition and meal-planning website, MealsMatter.org, maintained by registered dietitian moms with Dairy Council of California. Healthy Eating Made Easier™

Photo Caption:  Buffalo Chicken Casserole, EatingWell. Photo by Ken Burris.

Wintry weather has come to most parts of the country and comfort food is once again on the menu. Whether served from the stove top or the slow cooker, these hearty recipes are sure to warm your family from the inside without adding extra weight to their outsides.

Tuck in to steaming bowls of French Country Beef Stew, Cheddar Bay Biscuits and Creamy Fruit Dessert for a healthy, hearty and balanced family meal. Enjoy other hearty favorites this week like Broccoli and Cheese Strata, Slow-Cooker Posole, White Chili and even Slow-Cooker Breakfast Casserole. Many of this week’s recipes, while simple to prepare, do require significant cooking time. Please be sure to read each recipe carefully and plan accordingly.

Register at MealsMatter.org to add these and other recipes to your personalized family meal plan and shopping list.

“Family Meals Matter” features registered dietitian-approved recipes from the thousands of user-contributed recipes available at the free family-nutrition and meal-planning website, MealsMatter.org, maintained by registered dietitian moms with Dairy Council of California. Healthy Eating Made Easier™
 

Photo Caption:  French Country Beef Stew, EatingWell. Photo by Ken Burris.

In conjunction with the 19th Annual Healthy Weight Week, join the Meals Matter Moms & Registered Dietitians on Facebook Wednesday, January 18th at 10 a.m. PST for a LIVE chat on healthy, sustainable lifestyle habits!

Recently, the U.S. News and World Report (with input from a panel of health experts) ranked the top 25 diets and eating patterns. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) pattern, which emphasizes low-fat milk and milk products, fruits and vegetables while minimizing sodium, came out on top.

Since January 15 marks the start of the 19th annual Healthy Weight Week to celebrate healthy living habits that last a lifetime, we’ve compiled this week’s family meal recipes from our own DASH cookbook available at MealsMatter.org.

DASH your way to a healthy weight this week with a featured family meal of Sweet & Tangy Yam and California Raisin Salad, Cedar Baked Salmon with Watercress Yogurt Sauce and Berries with Custard Sauce. Continue this healthy eating pattern all week long with Cheer ‘Em on Moccachinos, Broccoli and Roasted Red Pepper Pasta, Chicken Breasts with Mango Salsa and Creamy Banana Walnut Oatmeal.

Register at MealsMatter.org to add these and other recipes to your personalized family meal plan and shopping list.

“Family Meals Matter” features Registered Dietitian-approved recipes from the thousands of user-contributed recipes available at the free family-nutrition and meal-planning website, MealsMatter.org, maintained by Registered Dietitian moms with Dairy Council of California. Healthy Eating Made Easier™

Photo Caption:  Sweet & Tangy Yam and California Raisin Salad, California Raisins.

Some recipes are just too good, and too versatile, to restrict to a single time of day. While many recipes can work for breakfast and lunch (brunch) or lunch and dinner (linner), there are a select few that can span all three categories (blinner).  Delight your family’s taste buds this week with recipes that taste good—and are good for you—any time of the day.

Start with a featured family meal of Broccoli-Cheese Pie, Honey-Lime Fruit Toss and Super Fast Smoothies. Enjoy other blinner recipes all week long, including Secretly-Delicious Spinach Pie, Shiitake Mushroom Fritatta, Apple Salad and Classic Scones.

Register at MealsMatter.org to add these and other recipes to your personalized family meal plan and shopping list.

“Family Meals Matter” features Registered Dietitian-approved recipes from the thousands of user-contributed recipes available at the free family-nutrition and meal-planning website, MealsMatter.org, maintained by Registered Dietitian-moms with Dairy Council of California. Healthy Eating Made Easier™

Photo Caption:  Broccoli-Cheese Pie, EatingWell

Eat Better, Eat Together is a blog series by registered dietitians and parents whose stories and advice help families start or strengthen a commitment to balanced family meals and create healthy, successful families. Take the Eat Better, Eat Together Family Meal Pledge at Facebook.com/MealsMatter.org.

After the holiday rush, the idea of more shopping—even grocery shopping— might be too much for some families. After New Year’s Day, take advantage of healthy food choices you probably already have in your pantry, freezer or refrigerator. You’ll save yourself a trip to the store and give your food budget a break, too. Don’t forget the free Pantry Planner tool on MealsMatter.org to start stocking up on healthy staples once your pantry-raid week is finished.

Clean out those cupboards with a festive family breakfast of Walnut Stuffed French Toast, Fruit Cocktail Salad and Shapely Shakers. Other budget-friendly meals to make with staple pantry ingredients include Tuna Noodle Casserole, South of the Border Chowder, Baked Chicken and Ziti and Pasta and Bean Skillet.

Register at MealsMatter.org to add these and other recipes to your personalized family meal plan and shopping list.

“Family Meals Matter” features registered dietitian-approved recipes from the thousands of user-contributed recipes available at the free family-nutrition and meal-planning website, MealsMatter.org, maintained by registered dietitian moms with Dairy Council of California. Healthy Eating Made Easier™

Photo Caption:  Walnut Stuffed French Toast, California Walnut Commission, Walnuts.org

Subscribe to the Meals Matter blog, follow @MealsMatter and #EatBetter2Gether on Twitter for more tips, recipes and family meal inspiration.

Eat Better, Eat Together is a blog series by registered dietitians and parents whose stories and advice help families start or strengthen a commitment to balanced family meals and create healthy, successful families. Take the Eat Better, Eat Together Family Meal Pledge at Facebook.com/MealsMatter.org. 

In the American South, Hoppin’ John, a dish made with black-eyed peas, is often served on New Year’s Day to bring plenty of everything the rest of the year. This food-wealth connection with the new year is common in many other parts of the world.

Sauerkraut and cabbage are often served on New Year’s Day in Germany and other countries because the cabbage leaves are said to represent paper money. Likewise, lentils are served on New Year’s Day in Italy and Brazil because the coin-shaped lentils signify wealth.

Dish up healthy recipes for the whole family by serving Barley Hoppin’ John, Mini Cheese and Cabbage Rolls and Hot Cranberry Sippers on New Year’s Day. Enjoy a wealth of flavors all week long with Baked Lentils with Cheese,Bree's Lentil-Tomato Soup, Heart-Healthful Turkey Reubens and Coconut Black-Eyed Peas.

Follow the Twitter hashtag #EatBetter2Gether for family meal updates and register at MealsMatter.org to add these and other recipes to your personalized family meal plan and shopping list.

“Family Meals Matter” features registered dietitian-approved recipes from the thousands of user-contributed recipes available at the free family-nutrition and meal-planning website, MealsMatter.org, maintained by registered dietitian moms with Dairy Council of California. Healthy Eating Made Easier™

Subscribe to the Meals Matter blog, follow @MealsMatter and #EatBetter2Gether on Twitter for more tips, recipes and family meal inspiration.

Photo Caption:  Barley Hoppin’ John, EatingWell. Photo by Ken Burris.

Eat Better, Eat Together is a blog series by registered dietitians and parents whose stories and advice help families start or strengthen a commitment to balanced family meals and create healthy, successful families. Take the Eat Better, Eat Together Family Meal Pledge at Facebook.com/MealsMatter.org.

Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas and Happy Kwanzaa to you all! The Meals Matter Moms are getting ready for a holiday break and will return in the new year. Before we do, I’ve compiled some of our favorite holiday activities, traditions and recipes to share with you.

Music makes the season bright for Meals Matter Mom Maureen Bligh and her family.

We’ve had fun the past few years learning holiday Christmas carols and playing them as a family band. My husband plays the guitar and sings, I play the piano, son Brian plays the drums and son Andy plays electric guitar. After practicing our parts, we have a few families over for dinner and a “concert.” We won’t be going on tour any time soon, but we have fun!

Mom of toddler twins LeAnne Ruzzamenti makes sure to work physical activity into her family’s holiday traditions.

We gather with a few other families to go get our Christmas trees. We spend the day in the foothills taking advantage of the recreation (hiking through the tree farms) and good eating (a picnic lunch with fresh apple pastries.) Then we meet back at one friend’s home for a wonderful spaghetti dinner. It is my most favorite day of the year!

Food is also central to Trina Robertson’s traditions.

Before Christmas my boys and I make Pizzelles, a thin Italian cookie baked in a waffle-like press. One batch takes about two hours to make over 100 cookies (read more about Trina’s Pizzelle tradition at Adventures in Eating.) Other holiday baking traditions include “See’s" fudge  and  Grandma’s fudge filled cookies.  On Christmas Eve we celebrate with the same Italian fish dinner with pasta. Then we set out milk and cookies for Santa and raw oats for the reindeer.

Making sure the reindeer are well-cared for is a common theme.  Registered dietitian Tracy Witmer and I both have fond memories of setting out carrots for the reindeer.  I’m not sure what happened to our carrots but Tracy figures hers ended up with her horses.

Thinking of others is also a time-honored tradition for Tracy and her family.

Every year before Christmas, my sister and I would go shopping with my mom to pick out warm coats and gloves for needy children. At the time I thought it was nice, but I can now really appreciate what a great learning experience it was and what great memories I have from spending this time together. The first year I went on my own, I cried sentimental tears!

For me, it’s just not Christmas without Rubens and Potato Soup made in double batches so they will last almost to New Year's Eve. Leftovers are also at the heart of Ashley Rosales' post Christmas tradition. She uses the left over Roasted Chicken to make her late grandmother's famous Chicken and Dumplings. 

The second I start making her recipe I instantly feel like she is with me. She was an amazing woman and Christmas was her favorite time of year. My family is from Kentucky and I live in California, so making this recipe is like buying a plane ticket back home. 

From all the Meals Matter Moms and everyone at Dairy Council of California, we wish you and your families
Healthy Eating to All, and to All a Good Bite!

Sara Floor Miller 

Subscribe to the Meals Matter blog, follow @MealsMatter and #EatBetter2Gether on Twitter for more tips, recipes and family meal inspiration.

Eat Better, Eat Together is a blog series by registered dietitians and parents whose stories and advice help families start or strengthen a commitment to balanced family meals and create healthy, successful families. Take the Eat Better, Eat Together Family Meal Pledge at Facebook.com/MealsMatter.org.

This week marks the start of Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa—three celebrations which usually involve food and family meals. While your family is sure to have some traditional favorites, we’ve compiled some healthier versions of latkes, sweet potato casserole and eggnog to help your family Eat Better, Eat Together.

Spin the dreidel, celebrate culture and deck the halls with healthy holiday meal of Zucchini-Potato Latkes with Tzatziki, Spiced Sweet Potato Casserole and Low-Fat Eggnog. Celebrate family, community and culture with Black Eyed Peas and Red Beans or start a new healthy holiday tradition this week with Broccoli and Roasted Red Pepper Pasta, Seafood Chowder or New Tradition Lasagna with Spinach Noodles.

Follow the Twitter hashtag #EatBetter2Gether for family meal updates and register at MealsMatter.org to add these and other recipes to your personalized family meal plan and shopping list.

“Family Meals Matter” features registered dietitian-approved recipes from the thousands of user-contributed recipes available at the free family-nutrition and meal-planning website, Meals Matter, maintained by registered dietitian moms with Dairy Council of California. Healthy Eating Made Easier™

Subscribe to the Meals Matter blog, follow @MealsMatter and #EatBetter2Gether on Twitter for more tips, recipes and family meal inspiration.

Photo Caption: Zucchini-Potato Latkes with Tzatziki, EatingWell. Photo by Ken Burris.