New Research from the Cornell Food and Brand Lab:

Eating At Table Linked To Less Fat

Beyond reducing plate size and counting calories, there may be another strategy for keeping the family at a healthy weight: eating together at the dinner table.

Families who eat together without the television on and stay seated until everyone has finished have children with lower weights and lower body mass indexes (BMIs) than those who don't, reports a Cornell behavioral economist in the IDEA Health & Fitness Association's October issue of Obesity. The association is especially pronounced for boys. Rsearchers explain that strong, positive socialization skills during dinners possibly supplant the need to overeat. Parents who talk meaningfully with children about their day during dinner also have lower BMIs.

The researchers noted that families who eat while watching television together can be heavier. Brian Wansink, professor in Cornell's Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab states, "The ritual of where one eats and how long one eats seems to be the largest driver. In fact, eating anywhere other than the kitchen or dining room was related to higher BMIs in both parents and in children. "

Wansink also states, "By focusing on family dining rituals, this research departs from the more food-centric approaches. Family meals and their rituals might be an underappreciated battleground to fight obesity."  

http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/

Make sure to eat your next meal with your family at the table!