Eat Better, Eat Together is a blog series by registered dietitians, educators and parents whose stories and advice help families start or strengthen a commitment to balanced family meals. Take the Eat Better, Eat Together Family Meal Pledge at Facebook.com/DairyCouncilofCalifornia.

I had the good fortune to attend what registered dietitians call FNCE (pronounced “fen see”) in San Diego September 24 through September 27.  The official name is the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo – a national gathering of the members of the American Dietetic Association.

One session was of particular interest to me, The Family Meal: Reclaiming the Dinner Table. I’ve long had a passion for the importance of family meals. I am one of five children and we had a family dinner every night. It was my mother’s dedication to preparing family meals and the interest in food and nutrition sparked by my high school home economics teacher that inspired me to become a registered dietitian! Since the importance of family meals is a core value for me, I was excited to attend a special session on this topic at FNCE.

Here is what I learned in a nutshell:

• Dining as a family can create an environment for parents to lead by example for their children. Children who eat with their families consume more fruits, vegetables, milk and milk products compared to those who eat fewer family meals. I was thrilled to learn that young adults who were raised eating regular family meals consume more vegetables (there is hope yet for my teenagers!)
• Adults also report that eating as a family is a positive portion of their day. Mealtime creates a feeling of togetherness and family cohesion. The concept of family meals does not exclude single-parent homes or couples without children. The routine associated with meals can provide a protective value for some of the risks associated with single-parent homes. For couples, the routine of sitting down together carves out time for each other and creates work schedule boundaries creating a balance between work and personal life.
• There is an association between family meal frequency and lower rates of obesity. However, while the meals are more nutritious (especially when prepared and eaten at home) they are not necessarily lower in calorie. Family meals consumed while distracted (watching television, taking phone calls, reading the mail) may actually increase food consumption.

Two surprising tidbits:

• Low income families more commonly have meals together than higher income families.
• If a family thinks they should eat a high quality diet, then they will regardless of their income level.

My long time value for balanced family meals (balanced meals include foods from each food group) and the need for nutrition education was confirmed. To learn more about family meals and how to make them a more positive and nutritious experience, subscribe to the Dairy Council of California blog, follow @Dairy_Council and #EatBetter2Gether on Twitter for more tips and the latest on healthy family meals.

Maureen Bligh, RD
Project Manager