1. Family Meals: Where Kids Belong

2. Is there time for meals?

3. Are family meals important? How frequent are family meals?

4. 2005 CASA National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse X: Teens and Parents http://www.casacolumbia.org % Teens Having Family Dinners 7X/Week

5. What happened to the family meal? Conflicting schedules Both parents working Long work hours Split shifts Meetings Sports practices Music lessons ↓ Cooking skills

6. How we eat today...

7. Do family meals matter?

8. Improved scholastic performance: ↑ language acquisition (C. Snow, Harvard Grad School of Education) ↑ school performance and achievement test scores (University of Illinois) ↑ academic success (Reader’s Digest survey)

9. 2005 CASA National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse X: Teens and Parents http://www.casacolumbia.org % Teens Who Get A’s/B’s in School by Frequency of Family Dinners

10. Do family meals matter? Fewer behavioral problems: 5 meals/week → ↓ drugs, depression, trouble (B. Bowden, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital)

11. 2005 CASA National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse X: Teens and Parents http://www.casacolumbia.org Family Dinners and Teen Substance-Abuse Risk

12. http://www.casafamilyday.org

13. Happier families: I mproved communication Stronger family ties Greater sense of identity and belonging Do family meals matter?

14. Improved nutrition: ↑ fruits and vegetables ↑ grains ↑ calcium-rich foods ↑ protein ↑ iron ↑ fiber ↑ vitamins ↓ soft drinks and snacks Neumark-Sztainer, JADA (103), 2003

15. Frequency of family meals and disordered eating among girls: Project EAT Disordered Eating (%) Never 1-2 3-4 5 or more Frequency of Meals

16. Family Meals: Could they help prevent overweight in children? ↑ nutrient-dense foods, ↓ nutrient-poor foods Consistent mealtimes → food security Parents role model healthy eating at meals Prevent “disengaged” eating and promote “focused” eating, respond to hunger/fullness Promote sense of belonging

17. What teens like to do with their parents Spend holidays together90% Go out to a nice restaurant86% Go on vacation79% Eat dinner at home79% Family parties68% Go to church, synagogue66% Watch TV66% Go out for fast food64% Teenage Research Unlimited, P. Zollo, 2004

19. Strategies for family meals: Make a priority Plan ahead Create positive atmosphere

20. Strategies for family meals: Make a priority

21. Strategies for family meals: Plan ahead

22. Strategies for family meals: Create a positive atmosphere and turn off the TV

24. 2005 CASA National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse X: Teens and Parents http://www.casacolumbia.org Family Dinners, 1998-2005

25. For more information on Family Mealtime visit the Purdue University Center for Families’ Promoting Family Meals Project: www.cfs.purdue.edu/CFF/promotingfamilymeals

26. Please respond: “What do YOU think about – Promoting Family Meals?”