And overweight kids are more likely than normal-weight kids to eat in front of the television. Kids who ate dinner with their families ate more vegetables and drank fewer sodas than those who ate dinner alone. The old school of thought is that dinner is a good place for sharing and talking with your kids, says nutritionist Karen Cullen of the Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor.
Dinner is an opportunity for family conversation and interaction.
The downside of eating while watching TV is that a lot of times you're not aware of what you are eating, and you eat too much, she says. And when kids are with their families at meals, they seem to make better choices in what they eat, Cullen says. Children's nutritionist Ellyn Satter says some parents may think their kids behave better when the TV is on because it's a distraction and may keep down the fighting and conflicts at the table. But it's better for families to sit down and have a pleasant, relaxing meal together without the television blaring.