Health benefits associated with dining out with your children

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Taking your kids out for dinner does more than just save you time in the kitchen.

It turns out the experience can have a number of health benefits as well.

Research has shown that children who dine out with their family perform better academically and socially, have higher self esteem, and a lower risk of depression.

“There’s lots of research around children and how their ability to connect with others and socialize and even their ability to learn and changes with the type of nutrition that they’re getting and the food that they’re getting,” explains Danielle Binns, who is a nutritionist and family restaurant consultant. “So variety is important.”

She says there are a number of higher end eateries in Vancouver that made OpenTable’s list of Canada’s Top 50 Kid Friendly restaurants.

“Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House, which is great, because again, when it comes to kids we don’t think about offering seafood to kids but it’s actually a really easy food for them to consume. And places like Kobe Japanese Steak house. Japanese restaurants are actually quite popular on the list.”

Seasons in the Park and Neverland Tea Salon also made the list.

Binns adds trying new places can do more than just expand a child’s food repertoire — it can help lower the risk of eating disorders and obesity.

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