Download - Family Meals
Family Mealsspell
S – U – C – C – E – S - S
What does “family meal”
mean to you?Is it individually
grazing in the kitchen?
Dining from the dashboard of a car?
Is there time for meals?
Are family meals important?
How frequent does your family have a meal?
2005 CASA National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse X: Teens and Parents http://www.casacolumbia.org
12 13 14 15 16 170
102030405060
% Teens Having Family Dinners 7X/Week
What happened to the family meal?
Conflicting schedules Both parents working Long work hours Split shifts Meetings Sports practices Music lessons ↓ Cooking skills
How we eat today . . .
How about YOU?Reflect on your own experiences
with family mealtime . . . Share your best memories of
family meals growing up Would someone like to describe
your “family meals” ?
S = Smarter Children↑ language
acquisition (C. Snow, Harvard Grad School of Education)
↑ vocabulary = better readers and students
5 or more family dinners per week likelier to receive either all A’s or mostly A’s and B’s
2005 CASA National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse X: Teens and Parents http://www.casacolumbia.org
010203040506070
0 to 2 5 to 7
% Teens Who Get A’s/B’s in School by Frequency of Family Dinners
Academic Performance Teens who have
frequent family dinners are likelier to get better grades in school and higher academic performance is associated with lower substance abuse risk.
Jeopardy’s Million Dollar Man –Ken Jennings
Dinner Conversation Topics
Friends and Social Activities
Current Events Family Issues Religion Curfew Peer pressure Substance abuse
U = Unlikely to smoke…
http://www.casafamilyday.org
5 or more family dinners verses 2 or less are:
Three times likelier to try marijuana
Two and a half times likelier to smoke cigarettes daily
More than 2x times likelier to drink alcohol or get drunk weekly
5 or more dinners verses 2 or less:
3 Times likelier to report that half or more of their friends use marijuana
Twice as likely to know a friend or classmate who uses Ecstasy
80% likelier to know a friend or classmate who abuses prescription drugs
40% likelier to know a friend who uses acid cocaine or heroin
2005 CASA National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse X: Teens and Parents http://www.casacolumbia.org
0 to 2 5 to 70
0.20.40.60.8
11.21.41.6
Dinners Per Week
Family Dinners and Teen Substance-Abuse Risk
C = Courteous and Conversational
Children who have meals together have an easier time being courteous and making polite conversation.
Makes family relationships stronger.
C = Connected to Family
Family Relationships Parents are proud
of teens Low levels of
tension and stress Confide in parents
What’s going on at the table?
Less than 3x vs. 5-7x weekly 32% likelier to
dine with TV on 150% say there is
not much talking 2x as likely to say
that dinners don’t last long enough.
E = Eating Better↑ fruits and
vegetables↑ grains↑ calcium-rich foods↑ protein↑ iron↑ fiber↑ vitamins↓ soft drinks Neumark-Sztainer, JADA (103), 2003
Family Meals: Could they help prevent
overweight? Consistent mealtimes → food security ↑ nutrient-dense foods, ↓ nutrient-
poor foods Parents role model healthy eating at
meals Prevent “disengaged” eating and
promote “focused” eating, respond to hunger/satiety
Promote sense of belonging
TV and Family Meals: Kaiser Family Foundation 1999 (1090 2-7 yrs old; 2065 8-18 yrs old)Is TV usually on during meals in your home?
(% yes)Total sample 58%2-7 yrs 47%8-18 yrs 65%
www.kff.org/content/archive/1477/vchip_s.pdf
Strategies for family meals:
Make a priority
Strategies for family meals:
Plan ahead
Strategies for family meals:
Create positive atmosphere
Family Meals:Impossible Dream or Realistic
Goal?
2005 CASA National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse X: Teens and Parents http://www.casacolumbia.org
Family Dinners, 1998-2005
0 to 2 5 to 70
10
20
30
40
50
60
1998
2000
2005
Dinners Per Week
Other Benefits Less Fights Less suspensions Less Sex Lower risk for
suicide Healthier Food
Balanced Meals
Family MealtimeMake it happen!
Family Mealsspell
S – U – C – C – E – S - S
This presentation on Family Mealtime
was made possible by thePurdue University
Center for Families’Promoting Family Meals Project.
For more information go to:
www.cfs.purdue.edu/CFF/promotingfamilymeals