Families Who Have Dinner at the Table Have Slimmer Children

Families who regularly serve food at the table have slimmer children because they are able to tell when they are already full, a recent study finds.

Experts said children who serve themselves also eat less than those who are given pre-plated food because they are able to recognize when they are full much quickly when sitting around a table than if given a full plate that they can consume in front of the television. Lead author Dr. Brent McBride, director of the child development laboratory at the University of Illinois said: "Family-style meals give kids a chance to learn about things like portion size and food preferences. When foods are pre-plated, children never develop the ability to read their body's hunger cues. They don't learn to say, okay, this is an appropriate portion size for me."

Researchers involved in the study added that children should be pressured into finishing a serving as this can encourage them to eat more than they need. "Instead of asking are you done, parents should ask children, are you full? Or they should say, if you're hungry, you can have some more," said Dipti Dev, a graduate student in nutritional sciences at the University of Illinois. "Asking the right questions can help children to listen to their hunger and satiety signals."

"If a child doesn't eat at one meal, he'll compensate for it over a 24-hour period. Making kids eat when they're not hungry is probably the worst thing you can do. It teaches them not to pay attention to their body's signals," she added. The research was published in the journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.