Truth be told: life has been busy lately. I feel like family dinners are quickly becoming a thing of some past life and some I dream about along with sugar plum fairies and winning an all-expensed paid beach vacation on Wheel of Fortune (both true).

Honestly though, when we purchased our house, it had a dining room. You've seen those dining rooms, the ones that are more staged than used. There was a mini-breakfast nook that you could tell the previous owners used full time, and their dining room chairs set collecting dust. I did not want to be that family. I wanted the family dinners every night, with whole foods and no television on in the background.

Family dinners have been known for so much positivity for our children from better academic performance, lower risk of substance abuse, lower risk of teen pregnancy, lower risk of depression, lower likelihood of developing eating disorders and lower rates of obesity among other things according to TheFamilyDinnerProject.Org. And yet, as the kids are getting older, the harder it is to come up with creativity dinners ideas that are healthy and interesting for the whole family!

Thank you, Moms Meet, for sponsoring this post. I was selected for this opportunity by Moms Meet; the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

We have been cooking with olive oil as one staple ingredient for years, specifically European Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I grew up cooking with artificial sprays, butters, and oils that were jam-packed with ingredients that were artificial and full of words that were so hard to pronounce. So when we opted to start going healthier in our home we knew to choose EVOO because it represents the freshest and purest olive oil available. EVOO is made by pressing fresh olives without harsh or chemicals.

So why choose European EVOO?

• The olive tree has been revered in Europe since antiquity. Over thousands of years, farmers have evolved hundreds of varieties of olive trees and optimized them for different environment conditions and terrains to produce the most delicious yields.
• The result of this centuries-old bond between the people and the land is the finest extra virgin olive in the world. • The greatest impact on taste is the type of olive tree, region (which affects climate and soil) and time of harvest.
• Europe offers a vast array of flavor profiles, so keep a variety of oils in your pantry for different occasions.

It is also important to note the vast array of flavors that you can find in European EVOO. Spanish oil is usually golden yellow with a fruity, nutty flavor, where as Italian olive oil is typically dark green and has an herbal aroma and a grassy flavor. There is also Greek olive oil, which packs a strong flavor and aroma and tends to be green, and French oil, which is typically pale in color and has a mild flavor.

So what do we cook with EVOO?

Here's a great recipe that was recently a hit for everybody involved. Honestly, I think our youngest, Lillie, ate the most!

Spaghetti with Shrimp, Olive Oil, Garlic and Chili Flakes

Ingredients

• 7 ounces whole grain spaghetti 
• 3 small garlic cloves, minced 
• 1 1⁄2 tsp of chili pepper flakes
• 4 Tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil 
• 3/4 tsp salt 
• 8 oz cooked prawns 
• 2 large tomatoes, with the skin removed and diced 
• 1⁄2 tsp freshly-ground black pepper 
• Handful of baby spinach leaves 
• Freshly grated Parmesan 

Instructions

1. Cook spaghetti according to the directions on the package, until it is al dente. 
2. Strain spaghetti and return to the saucepan over a low heat. 
3. Add the minced garlic, chili pepper flakes, olive oil, prawns, tomatoes, salt, and pepper, and mix together well. Place in a serving dish and scatter over the spinach and Parmesan cheese. Serve warm in bowls!

*Recipe Courtesy of European Extra Virgin Olive Oil