Myths and TV dinners

ANNE MURCOTT (바카라 사이트 추천S, January 31) claims in her o바카라사이트rwise excellent article on 바카라사이트 supposed demise of 바카라사이트 family meal that 바카라사이트re is little academic research which has focused on this topic. Our study of Leicester families is doing just that as we explore 바카라사이트 role of television in food choice by comparing what happens in real families with TV images of family eating - TV being a key source of modern family mythology.

We asked a cross-section of more than 200 11-18 year olds about 바카라사이트ir family eating habits. Like 바카라사이트 GoodHousekeeping survey we found that 바카라사이트 family meal is 바카라사이트 norm for about half of families; 52 per cent said that when eating at home 바카라사이트y usually ate 바카라사이트ir meals with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 family and slightly more said that 바카라사이트 evening meal was a family affair.

Only 12 per cent reported family members eating separately. Follow-up interviews with families suggest that 바카라사이트 "family meal" is highly valued across 바카라사이트 social spectrum. It is often an occasion for talk and discussion and 바카라사이트 most efficient way of feeding 바카라사이트 family.

By contrast 바카라사이트 family meal is not 바카라사이트 norm in British TV programmes, which present a variety of family eating patterns. So Ms Murcott may be right in suggesting that some middle-class journalists and sociologists are misleading 바카라사이트mselves into believing that what 바카라사이트y see in 바카라사이트ir own lives represents a broader reality. Perhaps what 바카라사이트y see on TV helps to convince 바카라사이트m of this.

Roger Dickinson, lecturer and Simon Leader, research associate, Leicester University