As kids get back to school, a central Illinois nutrition educator with the University of Illinois Extension office is promoting family mealtimes at the end of the day.

Caitlin Mellendorf on the WHOW Morning Show Monday told Regional Radio News the dinner table is a good time to talk to your kids and hear about their day but research suggests families that spend time together at the dinner table have children that perform better in school.

Mellendorf says whatever meals with your kids look like, it is about giving those kids the attention they need. She notes there's a lot of ways to engage with your kids. 

Children getting the proper nutrition during the school year can be a challenge as school activities and work schedules begin to quickly pick back up. Mellendorf encourages giving your kids some grace when it comes to how much they want to eat.

According to Mellendorf, if you're having a hard time with children getting enough to eat because of their preferences or other eating habits, you can seek out professional help. The University of Illinois Extension offers other tips on children's nutrition at familyresiliency.illinois.edu. She says that web address offers a great number of resources around family mealtime.