No, it is not good to eat in front of the television or even have the TV on during meals. Mealtime should be spent enjoying food and talking with family members. Children who eat meals in front of the television spend more time watching TV—far more time than it takes them to eat their meals. People who watch TV while eating tend to be unaware of how much they eat and less sensitive to the body’s cues to hunger and satiety, which encourages overeating. Or they may forget to eat at all in their distraction, especially a child with a small appetite. Families who eat in front of the TV miss important opportunities to interact, which can build children’s self-esteem and positive relationships between children and parents.

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