1. Family Meals: Where Kids Belong

2. Is there time for meals?

3. Are family meals important? How frequent are family meals?

4. 2003 CASA National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse VII: Teens and Parents http://www.casacolumbia.org % Teens Having Family Dinners 7X/Week

5. What happened to the family meal? Conflicting schedules Both parents working Long work hours Split shifts Meetings Sports practices Music lessons ↓ Cooking skills

6. How we eat today...

7. Do family meals matter?

8. 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)

9. 2003 CASA National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse VII: Teens and Parents http://www.casacolumbia.org % Teens Who Get A’s in School by Frequency of Family Dinners

10. Do family meals matter? Fewer behavioral problems: 5 meals/week → ↓ drugs, depression, trouble (B. Bowden, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital)

11. 2003 CASA National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse VII: Teens and Parents http://www.casacolumbia.org Family Dinners and Teen Substance-Abuse Risk

12. http://www.casafamilyday.org

13. Happier families: I mproved communication Stronger family ties Greater sense of identity and belonging Do family meals matter?

14. Improved nutrition: ↑ fruits and vegetables ↑ grains ↑ calcium-rich foods ↑ protein ↑ iron ↑ fiber ↑ vitamins ↓ soft drinks and snacks Neumark-Sztainer, JADA (103), 2003

15. 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

17. Strategies for family meals: Make a priority Plan ahead Create positive atmosphere

18. Strategies for family meals: Make a priority

19. Strategies for family meals: Plan ahead

20. Strategies for family meals: Create a positive atmosphere and turn off the TV

22. For more information on Family Mealtime visit the Purdue University Center for Families’ Promoting Family Meals Project: www.cfs.purdue.edu/CFF/promotingfamilymeals

23. Please respond: “What do YOU think about – Promoting Family Meals?”