Melora Hardin, from The Office, plays the hysterical character Jan Levenson, but she is serious about healthy food for her 2 young girls. She wants mealtime to be fun and not a place for negotiation and power struggles. This is easier said than done. Through trial and error she figured out what works for her family. She and her husband, Gildart Jackson, have a few simple strategies based on the basic idea of never saying “eat one more bite and you can have dessert.” Parent Earth interviewed Melora and filmed her family’s breakfast to see how she does it. Melora says that it was hard making the change, but that with patience and persistence she made it work, “the kids really took to it.” Her goal is for her kids to listen to their own bodies and make healthy choices for themselves. It requires a lot of talking with your children and in the video she shares handy phrases any parent can use.
Melora Hardin’s Family Food Rules:
- Desserts are only served on the weekend
- The kitchen is always stocked with fresh fruits that the kids can eat anytime
- Kids decide when they are done eating and when they are full
- Dessert comes after dinner
- Special occasions, like birthdays, are exceptions to the rule
- Kids get involved in the kitchen and make cooking fun – cook with kids
Inspired by Michael Pollan’s Food Rules we are asking different parents about their 5 Family Food Rules. What are your family food rules?
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