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Shared lunches build children's positive attitudes toward fruits and vegetables
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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A complete children's diet must be varied and include plant-based foods. Vegetables and fruits are very useful for a child's body. They contain a large amount of carbohydrates, a large complex of vitamins and minerals necessary for the growth and normal development of a child's body. Fresh vegetables and fruits are an excellent source of fiber and pectin substances, which normalize digestion processes, protect the mucous membrane from the effects of microbes and promote the development of beneficial microflora in the intestines.
Parents often face the problem of how to feed their child vegetables and fruits? Many children are reluctant to eat even a piece. But scientists know the solution - having lunch together at least once a week helps children eat vegetables and fruits.
Scientists from the University of Leeds have found that even just one meal a week together has a positive effect on children's attitudes towards fruits and vegetables.
The researchers conducted a survey of 2,389 children from 52 London schools. The survey found that almost two-thirds of schoolchildren (63%) do not consume the daily portion of vegetables and fruit recommended by the World Health Organization – 400 grams.
Children who reported that family meals were common in their families consumed an average of 125 grams more fruits and vegetables than those students whose families never had family meals.
Even those children in whose families breakfast, lunch or dinner did not take place every day with the family, but only once or twice a week, consumed 95 grams more vegetables and fruits.
Research also shows that in families where parents eat vegetables and fruits every day, children also eat more.
According to the study's leader, Professor Janet Cade, family meals have a positive influence on children. Children watch not only their mums and dads but also their brothers and sisters eat vegetables and fruit. This plays a vital role in creating their own eating habits and preferences.
The modern pace of life often prevents the whole family from having breakfast or dinner together, so it is not surprising that the consumption of vegetables and fruits by children is so low. But this study shows that gathering the whole family around the same table at least once a week can help improve the diet of the whole family, in particular the child.
Children whose parents personally cut up vegetables and fruits for the child ate, on average, half a portion, which was a quarter more than the portion eaten by children whose parents never did this.
Experts recommend having dinner together more often, because in this way parents get an excellent opportunity not only to instill good manners and habits in children, but also to control their diet, motivating them to eat healthy foods.
“Given that eating habits are formed in childhood, it is important to encourage and educate children about the benefits of healthy eating, and to model this by yourself. Family meals are a great opportunity to do this,” says Dr. Cade.
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