New Delhi. Teen-agers who have two or fewer family meals weekly are twice as likely to smoke and drink as teens eating five such dinners a week, according to a study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia, said Dr. K K Aggarwal, President, Heart Care Foundation of India and Editor eMedinewS. Eating together always provides a grounding for family members.

A national study of kids between 3 and 12 has shown that more meal time at home is the single strongest predictor of better achievement scores, ahead of time studying or in church. Researchers has shown a strong link between eating at least five dinners a week with a parent and children who are less likely to use drugs and develop good eating habits.

Best meals are enjoyed at home with the television off and that children should be encouraged to chat, not badgered to eat broccoli or explain poor grades.