Screen-time vs Mealtime. Who wins?

 

 

Do we really need screens while eating? If you ask this question to the young generation of kids now, probably they will reply with an answer, "YES!!" 

Generally, children cannot help but get attracted to the content displayed on the mobile phone, thanks to the ease of access to the entertainment. And the impact of digital screen time on the dietary habits of the children is not so healthy. If you ask why, science has the reasons for it.

So, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children younger than 18–24 months of age should not ever use screen media, while older children should not use these media for more than 1 h daily. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infants within the first year of life should not be exposed to digital screens. We have seen a drastic increase in the screen time for children around 2 to 5 years old during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of social distancing restrictions that have been introduced, which obliged children and adolescents to engage with remote learning, limited opportunities for physical activity, and led to unhealthy eating habits. According to the recent survey, 60% of children aged 2–5 years old had excessive screen time. 

How many of you have observed a kid who is addicted to the screen while having their meals? Their complete focus will be on the screen, not on the food they have on their plate. Hence, they are prone to poor dietary habits, such as a higher intake of energy, more frequent consumption of fast food and sweets, and lower intake of fiber, vegetables, fruit, and fish. Those children were reported to have poorer psychomotor and cognitive development. 

Detailed Impact of Screen Times on Meal Times 

1. Affects Brain and Gut Connection: Excessive screen time during meals can disrupt the communication between the brain and the digestive system. This disruption may prevent children from properly sensing the characteristics of food, such as color, texture, and taste, thereby leading to decreased enjoyment and recognition of different foods.

2. Overeating: When children are distracted by screens while eating, they may lose touch with their body’s natural hunger and hunger cues. This lack of awareness can lead to overeating or consuming food without real hunger, contributing to unhealthy eating patterns. Such distracted eating in children gives rise to many health issues including obesity. 

3. Low Metabolic Rate: Screen time at meals often means less focus on chewing, which is essential for the initial step of digestion. Poorly chewed food compromises nutrient absorption and slows down the metabolism, which can lead to indigestion and inefficient fat burning. This is the effect of pseudo eating. A baby watching TV while eating has a reduced metabolic rate compared to the metabolic rate when the child is focused on eating only. 

4. Social Eating Issues: Regular use of screens at meal times can make it challenging for children to adapt to social eating environments, such as school cafeterias or dining out. They may struggle to engage in normal eating behaviors when expected to eat without the distraction of a device, affecting their social interactions and eating habits outside the home. 

How to resolve the issue? Simply follow these tricks : 

• understanding the benefits of mindful eating.
• creating a digital-free zone for children while having meals. 
• Children's leisure time should include more interesting physical activities along with spending quality time with family members, playing outdoors, etc. 
• Parents should be proactive in strategically promoting limited screen time and educating children about the impact of overindulgence.

So, kids, it is high time that you give rest to your eyes and put down that mobile phone while eating your meals. Your favorite cartoon show can wait, but your relationship with food will slip away if you don't prioritize your healthy eating behavior.