Make Mealtime a Family Time

With busy schedules, it’s sometimes hard to gather your family for a sitdown meal. But family meals can teach your kids health lessons that will stick with them for years to come. According to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, teens who have regular family meals are more likely to have healthy eating habits as young adults, according to new research.

Young adults who grow up having seven or more family meals a week are more likely to eat fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals. They’re also more likely to start their day with breakfast. Adolescents who have few family meals a week, on the other hand, are more likely to drink sugar-laden soda and be overweight.

It seems that family meals provide an opportunity for parents to model healthy eating habits. Maybe your teens aren’t so embarrassed by you after all.