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Family Meals May Prevent Eating Disorders
With school, sports, playdates and late nights at the office all vying for your family’s time, it’s difficult to get everyone to sit down around the table for dinner. But new studies suggest that doing just that can make your kids healthier and happier.
For years, researchers have said children who often eat meals with their families are less likely to smoke cigarettes, consume alcohol and use marijuana. Now experts at the University of Minnesota say adolescent girls who enjoy frequent family meals are less likely than others to develop eating disorders. The researchers studied 2,516 adolescents over the course of five years. At the end of the period, they found that teenage girls who ate five or more meals with their family every week in 1999 were significantly less likely to report eating disorders in 2004.
Although the study did not show a similar pattern among adolescent boys, all children can benefit from the consistency offered by routine family meals. Teens who sit down with their parents tend to eat more healthful meals and learn important social and communication skills.
To get your family started on a mealtime schedule, involve everyone in the planning. If evenings are too tough, have family breakfasts. Just make sure everyone knows when the meal will begin. Ask your kids to participate in the food preparation: Investing them in the process will teach them valuable cooking skills they can use to prepare their own meals when the family isn’t able to get together.
If you’re looking for new meals and treats to serve, Country Crock® offers delicious recipes at yourfamilytable.com. And if you share a story about how you’ve used mealtimes to improve your family’s health, Country Crock® will donate a complete complete meal to a family in need.
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This was so interesting! And I know I will be making our family meals have more importance!