The Council of Economic Advisers to the President reported, "The largest federally funded study of American teenagers found a strong association between regular family meals (five or more dinners per week with a parent) and academic success, psychological adjustment, and lower rates of alcohol use, drug use, early sexual behavior, and suicidal risks."
In addition to the social and psychological benefits, the research shows that children ages nine to fourteen who have regular dinners with their parents "have more healthful dietary patterns, including more fruits and vegetables, less saturated and trans fat, fewer fried foods and sodas, and more vitamins and other micronutrients." More and more research is showing that family meals also may be one of the most important protective factors in preventing childhood obesity. A study by The Ohio State University found that "pre-school aged children are likely to have a lower risk of obesity if they engage regularly in one or more of … specific household routines," and the first routine mentioned was eating dinner together as a family.
