Eating Together Increase Fruit and Vegetable Intake of Children

Family meals can increase your intake of fruits and vegetables children, although done only once or twice a week, according to UK researchers.
Children are encouraged to eat vegetables and fruits around 400 grams per day.
Results of a study published the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that those who always eat together, can reach the intake of vegetables and fruit. However, those who rarely did dine together nearly filled the intake of fruit and vegetables are recommended, reports the BBC (02/20/2012).

Researchers examine eating habits 656 families who say they always eat together, said 768 families eat together sometimes and 92 families never eat together at one table.
Children from families who always eat together on average consume five servings of fruits and vegetables. Children from families who sometimes eat together eat fruits and vegetables as much as 4.6 servings, while children from families who never eat with just consuming fruits and vegetables by 3.3 servings.
According to researchers eating vegetables and fruit parents and siblings in the home, is a good example for children.
"Modern life is often deter families from eating together, but this study shows that although only lunch together on Sunday, it can help to improve the dietary habits of our families," said Meagan Christian, who conducted the study as part of her doctoral level studies .
Prof Janet Cade of the University of Leeds who oversaw the study confirms that eating habits parents and other children in the family greatly affects child's eating habits, including the consumption of vegetables and fruits.
"Dietary habits (consumption of various types of food-red) formed in childhood. Promoting the importance of family meals should be more attention in public health campaigns, "said Cade.
Azmina Govindji of the British Dietetic Association said: "Eating habits formed in childhood is difficult to remove. Eating with the family at the dinner table and not in front of the TV, it will reduce the chance of eating a no-no that can lead to obesity. "
"This study shows that children learn more from seeing what we do and not what we say," added Govindji. *