Nutr Res Pract.  2014 Dec;8(6):679-687. 10.4162/nrp.2014.8.6.679.

Eating habits and eating behaviors by family dinner frequency in the lower-grade elementary school students

• Lee SY
• Ha SA
• Seo JS
• Sohn CM
• Park HR
• Kim KW

• KMID: 2313795
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2014.8.6.679

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Recently, there has been an increased interest in the importance of family meals on children's health and nutrition. This study aims to examine if the eating habits and eating behaviors of children are different according to the frequency of family dinners.
SUBJECTS/METHODS
The subjects were third-grade students from 70 elementary schools in 17 cities nationwide. A two-stage stratified cluster sampling was employed. The survey questionnaire was composed of items that examined the general characteristics, family meals, eating habits, eating behaviors, and environmental influence on children's eating. The subjects responded to a self-reported questionnaire. Excluding the incomplete responses, the data (n = 3,435) were analyzed using chi2-test or t-test.
RESULTS
The group that had more frequent family dinners (> or = 5 days/week, 63.4%), compared to those that had less (< or = 4 days/week, 36.6%), showed better eating habits, such as eating meals regularly, performing desirable behaviors during meals, having breakfast frequently, having breakfast with family members (P < 0.001), and not eating only what he or she likes (P < 0.05). Those who had more frequent family dinners also consumed healthy foods with more frequency, including protein foods, dairy products, grains, vegetables, seaweeds (P < 0.001), and fruits (P < 0.01). However, unhealthy eating behaviors (e.g., eating fatty foods, salty foods, sweets, etc.) were not significantly different by the frequency of family dinners.
CONCLUSIONS
Having dinner frequently with family members was associated with more desirable eating habits and with healthy eating behaviors in young children. Thus nutrition education might be planned to promote family dinners, by emphasizing the benefits of having family meals on children's health and nutrition and making more opportunities for family meals.

Keyword

school-aged children; family meals; eating habits; eating behaviors

MeSH Terms

Breakfast
Edible Grain
Child
Dairy Products
Eating*
Education
Family Characteristics
Feeding Behavior*
Fruit
Humans
Meals*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Vegetables

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