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Irish Wedding News

06/11/2013

Fewer Families Eat Meals Together

New research has found less than half of families in the UK sit together at the dinner table at mealtimes.

The study, which was conducted by Metrofurniture.co.uk in collaboration with Babies.co.uk, revealed that only 49% of families eat their evening meals at the dinner table every day.

More than 700 parents were questioned on their mealtime habits for the survey, with 14% of families admitting they never eat meals together, rather preferring to sit in front of the television.

For 11% of parents, they said they eat at the same table as their children a maximum of twice a week.

The rise of the 'TV dinner' is being linked as a reason for the decline of eating meals around a dinner table.

Simon Furzey of Metrofurniture.co.uk said: "While these concerns have been around for years, today the family mealtime faces a three-pronged attack from television, technology and relentless work schedules.

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"The distracted mealtime has been linked with overeating. It is easy to scoff down a meal in front of the TV without thinking about what you are eating or realising when you are full.

"We would like to see a 'dinner table revival' where parents turn off the TV and move mealtimes away from the couch."

Mr Furzey continued: "Watching their parents' behaviour at the dinner table is a great way for children to learn good manners and communication skills.

"We would like to see more families keeping technology away from the table and having real conversations.

"Some parents use a basket to store mobile phones at mealtime - not just their children's, but their own as well.

"Leading by example in this way teaches children that family mealtimes are important.

"We understand that work schedules can make the family mealtime more difficult.

"But where possible, build time into your routine to eat together and treat it as important as any work engagement."

James Macfarlane of Babies.co.uk, added: "We were pleased to see that a large proportion of our users were eating together at least once a week. We believe that the family mealtime is important and it is encouraging to see that most parents seem to agree."

(JP/IT)

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"New research has found less than half of families in the UK sit together at the dinner table at mealtimes."