Family Meals: Where Kids Belong
Is there time for meals?
Are family meals important? How frequent are family meals?
2003 CASA National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse VII: Teens and Parents % Teens Having Family Dinners 7X/Week
What happened to the family meal? Conflicting schedules Both parents working Long work hours Split shifts Meetings Sports practices Music lessons ↓ Cooking skills
How we eat today...
Do family meals matter?
Improved scholastic performance: ↑ language acquisition (C. Snow, Harvard Grad School of Education) ↑ school performance and achievement test scores (University of Illinois) ↑ academic success (Reader’s Digest survey)
2003 CASA National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse VII: Teens and Parents % Teens Who Get A’s in School by Frequency of Family Dinners
Do family meals matter? Fewer behavioral problems: 5 meals/week → ↓ drugs, depression, trouble (B. Bowden, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital)
2003 CASA National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse VII: Teens and Parents Family Dinners and Teen Substance-Abuse Risk
Happier families: I mproved communication Stronger family ties Greater sense of identity and belonging Do family meals matter?
Improved nutrition: ↑ fruits and vegetables ↑ grains ↑ calcium-rich foods ↑ protein ↑ iron ↑ fiber ↑ vitamins ↓ soft drinks and snacks Neumark-Sztainer, JADA (103), 2003
Family Meals: Could they help prevent overweight in children? ↑ nutrient-dense foods, ↓ nutrient-poor foods Consistent mealtimes → food security Parents role model healthy eating at meals Prevent “disengaged” eating and promote “focused” eating, respond to hunger/fullness Promote sense of belonging
Strategies for family meals: Make a priority Plan ahead Create positive atmosphere
Strategies for family meals: Make a priority
Strategies for family meals: Plan ahead
Strategies for family meals: Create a positive atmosphere and turn off the TV
For more information on Family Mealtime visit the Purdue University Center for Families’ Promoting Family Meals Project:
Please respond: “What do YOU think about – Promoting Family Meals?”