It's no news that eating together as a family can have a positive effect on children. But watching TV while dining negates the benefits of family dinners.
Previous research has suggested that family meals provide opportunities to serve and discuss healthy foods and their benefits to the body. It is also a way for parents to act as role models and teachers about serving sizes and listening to your body's signals regarding hunger and fullness.
But according to a recent study reported in the April 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, when TV watching is thrown into the picture, the opportunity for discussion and observation is lost. Not only that, but people tend to eat more while paying attention to the TV rather than to what they're eating.
So, eat together as a family, whenever possible. But keep the TV off, even if you need to move it from the room.