Eating together as a family can improve your teen’s diet, even if you all don’t get along

Teens having dinner together with their families are more likely to have healthier eating habits than those who eat alone, a new study has revealed.

Teenagers and young adults who eat meals with family are healthier. Family meals really do improve teenagers’ diets and put them on a path to healthy eating in later life, says new study. The researchers found that when families sit down together, adolescents and young adults eat more fruits and veggies and consume fewer fast-food.

“Our research found that family dinners are a great way to improve the dietary intake of the whole family, regardless of how well the family functions together,” said lead researcher Kathryn Walton, post-doctoral researcher at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, Canada.

“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,” Walton added.

The study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, found that preparing and enjoying a meal together can also help families bond and the meal does not have to be a big drawn-out affair.

“Even if it’s something you pull out of the freezer, add a bagged salad on the side and you’ll have a decent nutritional meal,” said Jess Haines, Professor from the University of Guelph in Canada.

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