"The benefits of eating dinner as a family do not overcome the negative effects of having the television on during dinner,"

Parents should "turn the television off during family mealtimes. Less educated parents also were more apt to have the TV on during the family dinner.

The health benefits of fruits and vegetables are well known; diets high in fruits and vegetables are associated with decreased risk of heart and blood vessel disease as well as certain types of cancer.

"Given that lifelong food preferences are established early in life, it is important for parents to foster mealtime environments that encourage healthful eating," Edmunds said.

It's been shown that children who eat a lot of fruits and vegetables during childhood are apt to maintain this healthy eating pattern into adulthood, she and her colleagues note.

So, by all means, make time to eat as a family, they advise. Just do it without the TV on.