双语：家庭聚餐有助孩子身心健康

2013-04-08 00:00:00来源：网络

　　Eating as a family is not only good for a child’s physical health--it also has psychological and emotional benefits, according to a study carried out in Canada’s McGill University.

　　加拿大麦吉尔大学的一项研究显示，与家人一起进餐不仅有助于孩子的生理健康，还对其心理及情绪方面大有裨益。

　　The researchers surveyed more than 25,000 boys and girls aged between 11 and 15 about their eating habits and their emotional well-being. They found that the average youngster ate dinner with their parents almost five times a week and a third of those had a family meal every day.

　　研究者以2.5万多名年龄在11-15岁之间的孩子作为研究对象，对其饮食习惯及情绪健康进行了研究。他们发现，这些孩子平均每周大约有五次与父母共进晚餐，其中有三分之一的孩子每天会有一次与家人一起进餐。

　　The study report shows that the more meals a family had together, the less likely the child was to be anxious and lonely and to skip classes at school or get into fights. Those who regularly had family meals felt happier at home, had more energy and were more helpful. They also felt more satisfied with life in general.

　　研究报告表明，家人在一起进餐的次数越多，孩子的焦虑感和孤独感就会越少，翘课及打架的次数也会减少。经常与家人一起进餐的孩子在家会感到更幸福、精力更充沛，也更乐于助人，而且他们通常对生活感到更满足。

　　The researchers said that family mealtimes are an opportunity to talk and share problems and experiences, and for parents to pass on advice. The contact also helps children feel valued.

　　研究者称，家人共同进餐的时间是诉说并分享困惑及经历的机会，也是家长给予孩子忠告的机会。这种交流也有助于孩子感受到自我的价值。

　　Study co-author Professor Frank Elgar said, “Each additional dinner related to significantly better mental health.” He added that although the study didn"t clearly prove that family meals nourish children’s mind, it “indicated that regular and frequent family dinners foster social exchanges that benefit all adolescents”.

　　研究报告的合著者弗兰克-埃尔加教授表示：“每(与家人)多吃一顿晚餐都与心理健康水平的显著提升相关。”他补充道，尽管这项研究没有明确证明与家人共同进餐会滋养孩子们的心灵，但它却“表明定期且频繁地与家人共进晚餐能促进社会交往，对所有青少年有益”。

　　Previous research found that teenagers who regularly sit down to meals with parents are less likely to be overweight than those who eat alone.

　　此前有研究表明，与那些独自进餐的青少年相比，时常与父母一起进餐的青少年更不易超重。

　　点滴积累

　　>foster [v.促进]

本文关键字: 与家人一起进餐