Table Talk: The End Of Trans Fats

This week's Family Dinner Table Talk, from HuffPost and The Family Dinner book:

Topic: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is moving to ban trans fats

Story to read: The Associated Press explains the FDA's plan

What to say to your kids: The FDA -- a government-run group that makes sure everyone has safe food and medicine -- is taking steps to get rid of a type of ingredient in our food called trans fats. According to the AP, "Trans fats are used both in processed food and in restaurants, often to improve the texture, shelf life or flavor of foods." You may have eaten foods that have trans fats in them -- like popcorn, doughnuts, frozen pizza and canned frosting. However, they aren't good for you, because they can clog up arteries and stop your blood from flowing throughout the body.

Questions for discussion:

• Do you think the FDA is right to want trans fats out of foods?
• Why do you think the FDA hasn't banned trans fats before now?
• Can you name foods that you eat that have trans fats in them? (Hint: You can tell by looking at the ingredients on the package)

In her cookbook, The Family Dinner, Laurie David talks about the importance of families making a ritual of sitting down to dinner together, and how family dinners offer a great opportunity for meaningful discussions about the day's news. "Dinner," she says, "is as much about digestible conversation as it is about delicious food."

We couldn't agree more. So HuffPost has joined with Laurie and every Friday afternoon, just in time for dinner, our editors highlight one of the most compelling news stories of the week -- stories that will spark a lively discussion among the whole family.