Family meals good for teens

Parents wanting to instill good eating habits in their children, particularly teenagers, should make sure they eat meals together.

In one of the first long-term studies to look at the benefits of family meals, researchers at the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota found that family meals have a big impact on adolescents because they encourage healthy eating habits and good nutritional choices.

"These findings suggest that having regular family meals during the transition from early to middle adolescence positively impacts the development of healthful behaviors for youth," said Teri L. Burgess-Champoux, who worked on the study.