Jessica, Caitlin, 2, and Andrew Miller eat with the TV off. Photo / Steven McNicholl
More than half of New Zealanders eat dinner in front of the television three or more nights a week, while almost a quarter admit to indulging in the habit every night, a new survey says.
Experts say the habit damages health - people who eat in front of the television
are more likely to be obese as they're distracted from how much they're consuming.
Clinical nutritionist Linda Outhwaite said: "We miss out on the taste and texture as the food is consumed without much focus and usually clean our plate absent-mindedly whether we are hungry or not.
"Watching television is often associated with high-calorie but nutrient-poor food and often the fridge or pantry are trawled, during the ad breaks, for the next thing we can pop into our mouths."
Children and teenagers miss out on a meaningful aspect of family life if they're glued to the screen during dinner-time, said Sue Beresford, the editor of Food magazine, which commissioned the survey.
