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Research on the benefits of family meals

How many children eat meals with their family?

42.7 % of Minnesota children and youth (ages 0-17) ate together with family every day during the past week.  (2007)
  • Source: Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative . 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health.
In 2003, 42 percent of adolescents ages 12 to 17 ate a meal as a family six to seven days a week, 27 percent ate a meal as a family four to five days a week, and 31 percent ate meals as a family zero to three days a week. Among children ages 6 to 11, 56 percent ate a meal as a family six to seven days a week, 25 percent ate a meal as a family 4 to 5 days a week, and 20 percent ate a meal as a family zero to three days a week.
  • Source: Child Trends DataBank

Impact of family meals on family connectedness

Family connectedness (e.g., feelings of warmth, love, and caring from parents) has been consistently related to healthy youth development and a reduced risk for emotional distress, substance abuse, violence involvement, and early sexual involvement. The act of sharing a meal together on a regular basis is a major means to develop and keep strong parent-child bonds.
  • Source: Story, M. and Newmark-Sztainer, D. A Perspective on Family Meals: Do They Matter? Nutrition Today, Vol. 40 (No. 6), Nov/Dec.

Impact of family meals on nutrition

Regular family meals during the transition from early to middle adolescence positively impacts the development of healthful eating behaviors of youth.
  • Source:  Burgess-Champoux, T., et. al.  Are Family Meal Patterns Associated with Overall Diet Quality during the Transition from Early to Middle Adolescence? Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, March/April 2009, Vol. 41 (No. 2).
Teens who eat more meals with their families show higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, and essential nutrients; lower intakes of less nutritious foods; and appear to be at less risk for experiencing disordered eating behaviors such as binge eating. Teens in families that make eating mealtimes together a priority, provide rules and structure to mealtimes, and maintain an enjoyable mealtime atmosphere are less likely to engage in unhealthful eating and dietary behaviors. 
  • Source: Newmark-Sztainer, D., et al. Eating Among Teens: Do Family Mealtimes Make a Difference for Adolescent’s Nutrition? New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, Spring 2006 (No. 3).
Frequency of family meals is positively associated with intake of fruits, vegetables, grains, and calcium-rich foods and negatively associated with soft drink consumption.  Family meals offer routine and consistency and provide an opportunity to socialize children and teach them about communication skills, manners, nutrition, and good eating habits.
  • Source: Newmark-Sztainer, D. et al. Family Meal Patterns: Associations with sociodemographic characteristics and improved dietary intake among adolescents. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, March 2003, Vol. 103 (No. 3).

Impact of family meals on preventing unhealthy behavior

Family connections have been consistently related to healthy youth development and a reduced risk for emotional distress, substance abuse, violence involvement, unhealthy weight control, and sexual behaviors. Greater frequency of family meals was associated with significantly lower odds of the following variables: cigarette, alcohol, marijuana use; low grade point average; high depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. 
  • Source: Newmark-Sztainer, D. et al. Family Meal Patterns: Associations with sociodemographic characteristics and improved dietary intake among adolescents. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Mar 2003, Vol. 103 (No. 3).
Compared to teens who have frequent family dinners (five or more per week), those who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than three per week) are twice as likely to use tobacco or marijuana; more than one and a half times likelier to use alcohol; and twice as likely to expect to try drugs in the future. Compared to teens who have frequent family dinners, those who have infrequent family dinners are more than twice as likely to be able to get marijuana in an hour and one and a half times likelier to be able to get prescription drugs to get high within an hour. 
  • Source: The Importance of Family Dinners V , National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, Sep 2009.
Frequency of family meals was inversely associated with tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use; low grade point average; depressive symptoms; and suicide involvement after controlling for family connectedness. Findings suggest that eating family meals may enhance the health and well-being of adolescents. Public education on the benefits of family mealtime is recommended. 
  • Source: Eisenberg, ME, et al. Correlations Between Family Meals and Psychosocial Well-being Among Adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158:792-796.

Impact of family meals on eating disorders

Regular family meals during adolescence play a protective role for extreme weight control behaviors in adolescent girls but not boys. Among girls, regular family meals predicted lower prevalence of extreme control behaviors, including self-induced vomiting and use of diet pills, laxatives, and diuretics. In contrast, among boys, the findings do not suggest a protective role of family meals for disordered eating behaviors.
  • Source: Newmark-Sztainer, D. et al. Family Meals and Disordered Eating in Adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med/Vol. 162 (No. 1) Jan 2008.
Adolescents who reported more frequent family meals, high priority for family meals, a positive atmosphere at family meals, and a more structured family meal environment were less likely to engage in disordered eating. Making family meals a priority, in spite of scheduling difficulties, emerged as the most consistent protective factor for disordered eating.   
  • Source: Newmark-Sztainer, D. et al. Are Family Meal Patterns Associated with Disordered Eating Behaviors Among Adolescents? Journal of Adolescent Health 2004, 35(5): 350-359.

Additional resources on family meals:

  • Books:
    • Doherty and Carlson.  Putting Family First: Successful Strategies for Reclaiming Family Life in a Hurry-Up World.  Henry Holt, 2002.
    • Doherty, William.  The Intentional Family . New York: Addison-Welsey, 1997.
    • Kimball, Jill.  Drawing Families Together One Meal at a Time. Active Media Publishing, 2003.
    • Mills and Ross.  Desperation Dinners Home-Cooked Meals for Frantic Families in 20 Minutes Flat. Workman Publishing, 1997. 
    • Nissenberg, Bogle, and Wright. Quick Meals for Healthy Kids and Busy Parents . John Wiley & Sons, 1995. 
    • Satter.  Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family . Kelcy Press, 1999.
    • Weinstein.  The Surprising Power of Family Meals: How Eating Together Makes U Smarter, Stronger, Healthier, and Happier. Steer Forth Press, 2005. 
  • Newspaper articles:

News coverage of Eat. Talk. Connect! in Dakota County

This page was last updated on: 04/30/2012