April 25, 2023
This study helps counter the myth that children don’t like fruits and vegetables.
Bonnie Liebman, the director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, on new research that shows kids may eat more fruits and veggies when dinnertime is longer.
Why It Matters: The study built upon previous research indicating that longer mealtimes contribute to healthier eating (for kids and adults alike).
Something To Consider: The amount of extra fruits/veggies consumed when dinnertime was 50% longer (typically an extra 10 minutes to a 20 minute meal), children ate the equivalent of two-thirds cups of fruits/veggies – the equivalent of an apple.
“We need to consider new ways to extend family meals such that everyone enjoys it, and then nibbles their extra fruits and veggies during the extra time, "study co-author Jutta Mata, a professor of health psychology at the University of Mannheim and an associate research scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berline.
by Jenna Lee,
