Busy lives and changing habits mean that fewer families now eat their evening meal at the dining table, preferring to tuck into their meal in front of a television or computer instead. A study of young children found that those who eat their main meal at the table are slimmer than those who are served in front of a screen. Researchers believe that children served at the dinner table eat less because they recognise when they are full, while those eating in front of the TV are too distracted to spot when they’ve eaten enough. Children allowed to serve their own portions also tend to put less food on their plate than if their food is simply handed to them.
