FAMILY MEALS IMPROVE TEEN DIET

Judi Adams, MS, RD, President
Wheat Foods Council
10841 S. Crossroads Drive, Ste. 105
Parker, CO 80138
Ph. 303-840.8787
Fax, 303-840-6877
JudiA@wheatfoods.org
www.wheatfoods.org

Family Meals Improve Teen Diet - March 4, 2002 - WebMD [from the Journal of The American Dietetic Association]
We've heard over and over again how important it is to get kids to eat their fruits and veggies. But how can you make this happen? Joining your kids at mealtimes appears to do the trick.

Previous studies have shown that when families sit down together, high-fat foods and sodas are less likely to be a part of a teen's diet. In addition, researchers have found that teens who regularly eat with their families are more likely to eat a diet containing the nutrients they need, like calcium, folate, vitamins, and iron.

In the current study, researchers wanted to learn the effects of family mealtime on older teens and determine how different aspects of a child's life may play into this association.

They studied more than 4,500 children aged 11 to 18. Teens who ate at least seven family meals a week ate fewer snack foods in their overall diet. And as seen in previous studies, these teens ate more fruits, vegetables, grains, and high-nutrient foods. The study is published in the March issue of the Journal of The American Dietetic Association.