(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Sitting down for a family dinner can help
adolescents develop healthy eating habits.
Researchers from the School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, made this
discovery in one of the first studies to examine the long-term benefits of
regular family meals for diet quality.
They focused on kids transitioning from early to middle adolescence. The study
found adolescents who participated in regular family meals reported more
healthful diets and meal patterns compared to adolescents who did not share five
or more meals a week with family.
"The importance of incorporating shared mealtime experiences on a consistent
basis during this key developmental period should be emphasized to parents,
health care providers, and educators," researcher Teri L. Burgess-Champoux,
Ph.D., R.D., L.D., was quoted as saying.
SOURCE: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, March/April 2009
