A new U of G study has revealed teenagers and young adults who sit down for family dinners – regardless of how well the family unit manages daily routines, communicates and connects emotionally – are more likely to have healthier eating habits than if they graze or fend for themselves at suppertime.
A new U of G study has revealed teenagers and young adults who sit down for family dinners – regardless of how well the family unit manages daily routines, communicates and connects emotionally – are more likely to have healthier eating habits than if they graze or fend for themselves at suppertime.
“Gathering around the dinner table is sort of a magical thing,” said lead researcher Kathryn Walton, dietitian and PhD student who worked on the study with family relations and applied nutrition professor Jess Haines.
“It’s a time when families can slow down from their busy days to talk, spend time together and problem-solve. It’s also a time that parents can model healthful eating behaviours.”
The researchers found that when families sit down together, adolescents and young adults eat more fruits and veggies and consume fewer fast-food and takeout items.
Read more at University of Guelph
Image: This is Kathryn Walton. (Credit: University of Guelph)
