Family meals make for teens who eat healthily

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) – Do you want your teen to eat better? Have more family meals, even if your family is not particularly close, according to new research.

"Gathering around the table is a magical thing," said lead researcher Kathryn Walton, a dietitian and PhD student. student at the University of Guelph in Canada.

"It's a time when families can slow down after a busy day to talk, spend time together and solve problems.This is also a time when parents can model healthy eating behaviors," he said. Walton said in a statement from the university.

The study included more than 2,700 young people aged 14 to 24 living with their parents. They were asked how often they had dinner with their family, how their family was doing well and what their eating habits were.

Teenagers and young adults who ate more with their families tended to eat more fruits and vegetables and less to eat quickly or to take away. This happened regardless of how families handled daily routines, communicating and connecting emotionally, according to the researchers.

Posted on 21 November in the journal JAMA Network open now, the study could not prove that the family dinner encouraged teens to eat healthy, but simply that there was an association.

Nevertheless, "to reap the many benefits of family dinners, the meal does not necessarily have to be a big deal," said co-author of the study, Jess Haines, a professor of family relations and applied nutrition at Guelph.

"Even if you step out of the freezer, add a packet salad on the side and you'll get a decent nutritious meal," Haines said.

Walton also noted that when teens and young adults help prepare foods, they are more likely to eat them and learn important skills in food.

"Our research has shown that family dinners are a great way to improve the food intake of the entire family, regardless of the quality of family collaboration," Walton said. "Preparing and enjoying a meal together can also help families build relationships – it's a win-win."

More information

The family dinner project has more on family meals.