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Deconstructing the family meal: are characteristics of the mealtime environment associated with the healthfulness of meals served?
While having meals as a family seems to have a positive effect on individuals, Kasper et al. (2019) point out that family meals are not well defined. Since there is a possibility that the characteristics of the mealtime may be linked with the healthfulness of the foods served, this study examined this relationship among young children from low-income families living in southeast Michigan, U.S. The parents provided video recordings of 757 mealtimes, which were then assessed for mealtime variables and meal healthfulness using the Healthy Meal Index (HMI). The mealtime characteristics included: eating at a table (vs. not); served family style (vs. not); eaten with TV off (vs. on); and the parents eating or drinking with the child (vs. not). A meal that had all four characteristics was defined as a family meal. While the Healthy Meal Index (HMI) determines the healthfulness of the meals, the index consists of 2 components: one of which is based on the presence of foods recommended for a healthy diet (HMI Adequacy score); while the other is based on the absence of foods that should be eaten in moderation (HMI Moderation score). Family meals were positively associated with HMI Adequacy and Total scores, while eating at a table was positively linked with HMI Moderation and Total scores. Meals served in family style were also more likely to produce higher HMI Adequacy scores, while eating with the TV off related to higher HMI Total scores. In conclusion, family meals were associated with greater healthfulness of the foods served. [NPID: family meals, healthful, healthy, healthy meals, US, USA, Michigan, children, parents, mealtime, foods, low-income families]
Year: 2019
