As the children stampede into the house after school, it’s likely one thing is on their mind: food. Whether they reach for something salted, sugared and processed – or a snack that’s much healthier but just as engaging as the commercial stuff – is an impulse you can help control while you foster healthy eating habits for kids.

Looking for reasons to start eating dinner together as a family? Here are 5 reasons to bring back family dinnertime:

“It’s a beautiful day. Turn off the TV and go outside.” When you were a child, your mom probably uttered those words as she shooed you out the door on a sunny Saturday morning. A quarter century or so later and you’re the mom admonishing her kids to turn off the Wii and go outdoors to play. We know our children need to spend time outdoors, but running off steam and energy and soaking up vitamin D aren’t the only benefits they receive from nature.

Many parents express concern about their child’s weight. Considering that child obesity has tripled since 1970, such concern is understandable. But just because your child is carrying a few more pounds than his buddies doesn’t necessarily mean he is obese. Children come in all shapes and sizes. Some children have larger frames and bigger bones than others and will naturally weigh more. It is also normal for some children to carry extra weight at different stages of development. But some children do gain unnecessary weight that can affect their health. Addressing weight gain early can help prevent future health problems.

There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot day than an icy cold popsicle. But while refreshing, store-bought popsicles may not 

be a particularly healthy treat to offer your child. If you read the labels, you’ll notice that many popsicles contain high fructose corn syrup, chemicals and food dyes. More manufacturers are using fruit juice in their popsicles, but it often represents only a small portion of the total ingredients. Fruit bars offer a healthier option, but may also contain preservatives and food coloring.