Researchers looked at relationships between what children ate and the presence of TV during meals, paying particular attention to foods eaten that are not advertised on TV (i.e. fruits and veggies).

The study had 91 families with children in 4^th, 5^th or 6^th grades. They compared families in which TV was viewed for 2 or more meals with families that viewed TV one or less meals.

The results showed:

High meal-time TV viewing families --

Ate more red meats, pizza, and salty snacks

Consequently ate more fats and protein

Ate fewer fruits, veggies, and juices

Caffeine intake twice that of other group

Low or no meal-time TV viewing families --

Ate more chicken, fish, prepared meals

Consequently ate more complex carbohydrates

Ate more fruits and veggies

Markedly reduced caffeine intake

Studies out in the past 5-10 years have shown us that increased TV viewing is directly related to childhood obesity and inactivity, but now we have several more pieces to the picture. Unfortunately, this is not a pretty picture either. In fact it is a depressing picture of our kids zoning on the boob tube at mealtime instead of talking with us, of our children spacing on TV instead of learning how to prepare a meal, of our babes being told what they need to eat from advertising gurus instead of from their parents. Let's look at these pieces briefly.

Piece one -- zoning instead of communicating. More and more of us parents feel alienated from our kids. "They don't talk to me." I hear at work. Step one: TURN OFF THE BOOB TUBE! The silence will be deafening, but then it will be fun, really. Get them involved with mealtime. Setting the table, cutting veggies, or stirring pots. Conversations will develop, relationships will build, and conflicts will get resolved. No not in one day, but over time. Remember the thought for this month? It in summary said relationships before things. The news can wait, relationships can't or they will fade away, or will grow up and move away.

Piece two -- spacing instead of food prep. Many of us, including this author, hate food prep. It takes time, attention, and detail that I just don't have to spare. But you know what, it is a dying art that I have forced myself to bring back. When you cut out TV during meal time, you have more time to make a meal. Do our kids know how to peel a potato, cut them up, boil water, cook them, season them, and enjoy eating lumpy potatoes? How about washing and cutting up veggies. Unimportant you say? Think of how many studies have come out just since 2000 that link decreased cancer risks with increased fruit and veggies intake. Very important. Our foods may be vitamin fortified but the best source is from the source. Food prep also says "I love you" because it is a labor of love. You are what you eat, so fill your kids with goodness. You may not believe this but food prep is bonding. When your kids help make a meal they see the effort in making it, can have fun doing it, and get closer to you in the process. Lighten up about messes.

Piece three -- advertising Vs parenting. In French, advertisement means "warning." We should replace ads with warnings. Warning ***poptarts contain cancer causing, lard making additives. Should you eliminate poptarts? Non, non mon cher. Find balance. However, don't accept TV telling your kid how to eat. Again, refer to step one: TURN IT OFF. Get your kids in the kitchen with you. Teach them about good foods, tasty foods, fun foods. It's a sensation for a child to sniff a ripe melon, pinch a bursting kernel of corn, and snap a fresh bean. What is the thrill of pushing 4,0,0, start, whir, whir, humm, humm, ding -- presto pizza? Quick foods have their places, like 1/16, 1/24 instead of 1/2 or 3/4 of our meals.

The common thread that holds the masterpiece of our family together is relationships whether we are cooking, eating, schooling, cleaning, vacationing, working, or worshipping. Relationships are what make the world go round. 1^st our relationship to Christ and then our relationships with those He has put in our lives to love, to forgive and then to love again. Remember the Lord did much of His best teachings over a good meal.