The Importance of Family Meals for Adolescents

by Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D.

March 5, 2005

Having regular family meals offers teens routine and consistency and an opportunity to socialize, while teaching them communication skills, manners, nutrition, and good eating habits.

There's no doubt, however, that scheduling family meals can be challenging, due to changing family structures, employment opportunities and demands, after-school activities, and the convenience of fast food. In fact, 53 percent of teens responding to our public health survey said that difficult schedules don't allow for regular family meals.

The good news, though, is that family meals are not a thing of the past. Seventy-four percent of teenagers said that they enjoy eating meals with their families.

For some adolescents, family meals are a part of their daily routine, whereas for others, family meals are rare. Some families eat breakfast or dinner together on a daily basis, while other families might have family gatherings on Sundays or Friday night. While nearly a third of teens in our study reported that their families have eaten a meal together at least seven times over the past week, about the same percent report two or fewer family meals over the past week, and 14 percent report no family meals.

The majority of teens said that they would eat healthier foods if they ate more meals with their families. Important factors that lead towards healthier choices include eating healthy meals prepared at home and having parents place a priority on healthy eating, including breakfast.

Teens who eat more family meals tend to eat more fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and calcium-rich foods, and have higher intake of iron, folate, fiber, and vitamins A, C, E, and B6. At the same time, they tend to drink fewer soft drinks. These findings are important as adolescents have high nutritional needs and their eating patterns tend to follow them into adulthood.

Unhealthy weight control practices and eating disorders are common among adolescents, particularly adolescent girls. Making positive family meals a priority is very important in protecting against teen eating disorders. About 18 percent of girls who eat only one to two family meals a week reported engaging in extreme weight control behaviors compared to 9 percent of girls who eat three to four family meals a week.

Our research also has shown that more frequent family meals protect against tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use, low grade-point average, depression, and suicide—particularly among adolescent girls.

Adolescence can be a challenging time for youth and their families because balancing work, school, social, and family demands can be difficult. If having regular family meals is not feasible, try having special family meals once a week or on holidays. Making available healthy, convenient foods that kids like and that can be eaten on the run is also helpful. Families should find what works for them, including being creative and flexible. The rewards are well worth it.

Dianne Neumark-Sztainer is an epidemiology professor in the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Her research on the eating habits of 4,746 Twin Cities adolescents was published in the November issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health. This column is an educational service, and advice presented should not take the place of an examination by a health-care professional. For more health-related information, go to http://www.healthtalk.umn.edu/.