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(NAPSI) - If teaching table manners and catching up on the juiciest classroom gossip aren't incentive enough, now you can add health benefits to the long list of reasons your family should share a meal. A recent review of research in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition suggests that children who eat meals with their families consume healthier foods.

With childhood obesity rates expected to double to 287 million kids, worldwide, by the end of this decade, simple actions such as eating together could make a huge difference. Children learn their eating behaviors from adults and will consume more vegetables, lean meats and whole foods, rather than fast foods or unhealthy snacks, when they are served regularly.

Add veggies, grains and lean proteins to kid-friendly dishes such as pastas, pizza and tacos. Try out formerly "adults-only" fare with dialed-down spices or simple side dishes. Also, serve plenty of monounsaturated fats from foods such as olives, nuts and avocados, for proper brain growth and vitamin absorption.

Assemble a meal that's full of flavor and a little bit familiar, like Sweet Sausage Fusilli, and chances are everyone will thrive.

Sweet Sausage Fusilli

2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

12 oz. sweet Italian poultry sausage, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick half moons

11/2 tsp. chopped oregano

Kosher salt and crushed red pepper flakes to taste

1 qt. (8 oz.) broccoli florets, blanched

1 cup California Black Ripe Olives, whole, pitted

1 qt. cooked fusilli pasta

1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese

Directions

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Stir in sausage and oregano and season to taste with salt and pepper flakes. Cook for 3-5 minutes until browned.

Mix in broccoli, California Black Ripe Olives and pasta and cook until heated through. Toss with remaining olive oil and top with Parmesan cheese just before serving. Serves 4.

To help kids learn more about making healthy food choices, send them to www.oliville.com, and for more recipes and nutritional information, visit www.calolive.org.

Healthy Choice-This dish is full of flavor and hugely healthy.