Family meals often are associated with overall improved nutrient intake, healthier body weight and better psychosocial health -- meaning children who eat more meals at home with their parents are more likely to be healthy in mind, body and spirit. Helping parents establish positive eating behaviors in the home, including family meals, is of key importance in achieving overall health for families, and health professionals can play a critical role in this process. Is it enough to just promote family meals in your nutrition education routine? According to a recent study published in the July edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, helping parents enhance specific parenting skills in addition to promotion of family meals may be the recipe for success!

This recent study (JADA, July 2010) followed four different parenting styles to see which had the most potential to influence positive lifestyle factors such as eating behaviors, self-regulation of physical activity and ultimately the risk for overweight. The four parenting styles observed were divided into two dimensions: the degree in which the parents respond to their children and the degree in which parents make demands of their children. An ‘authoritative’ parenting style, which is characterized by a high level of responsiveness as well as a high level of "demandingness", was associated with the greatest frequency of family meals for adolescent children. An authoritative parent is likely to be “empathetic and respectful of a child’s opinions, but maintains clear boundaries and expectations.” On the contrary, a second type of parenting style, ‘authoritarian’, shown through high "demandingness" and low responsiveness, had almost a five-fold increase in odds of being overweight. This parenting style is characterized by “low warmth and strict discipline.” In an effort to combat the childhood obesity crisis it is interesting to consider effective parenting styles as a part of the possible solution.

The results shared in this study lead to many other questions and possibilities for future research, such as what types of specific behaviors do authoritative parents use during mealtimes? Do parents with an authoritative parenting style more often serve balanced meals that include all of the food groups? More research is needed to look more closely at the positive home life behaviors of authoritative parents.

The good news is that we as health professionals can have a greater impact by not only encouraging frequent family meals but also reinforcing aspects of authoritative parenting styles. Our program booklets for parents, Making Meals Matter for Your Young Child and Making Meals Matter for Your School Age Child are both great resources available to health professionals looking for ways to help parents model health behaviors at home and share in nutritious family meals.

Ashley Rosales, R.D.

Project Manager