Family Dinner Research Articles

AWWA Water Science Author Spotlight

Having recently published an article in AWWA Water Science, Rain Richard answered questions from the publication's editor-in-chief, Kenneth L. Mercer, about the research. Pre- and Post-Flushing of Three Schools in Arizona Due to COVID-19 Shutdown Rain Richard and Trevor H. Boyer I currently work at NCS Engineers as a consultant, and my focus is on wastewater treatment design. My goal has always been to bridge the gap between research and industry. I use my research and analytical skills to model treatment plant options for clients and solve issues that occur at wastewater treatment plants, and I am slowly moving into direct potable reuse. Each wastewater treatment plant design for a client is like its own research project. There are so many factors and limitations associated with a design, from policies to budgets. Having patience, thinking outside the box, and presenting the atypical are what make me successful at my job. During the early part of my PhD work, I had been struggling for a week with cross-contamination of my cell cultures, and I couldn’t figure out why. I was really frustrated. The best thing I ever heard was when a professor told me, “Science does not have emotion. Therefore, you should not show it any emotion.” That changed everything for me. A light turned on and I felt like I gained control of my situation again. After that, regardless of how difficult a task was in the lab, I wasn’t bothered by failures or outcomes I wasn’t expecting. It is all a part of science. Rain and her family have just finished a mountain-bike ride in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. Rain is measuring dissolved oxygen in the various reactors at a wastewater treatment facility. In my opinion, getting direct potable reuse (DPR) to be accepted and practiced in the United States is a major hurdle that we should be implementing right now. The biggest challenge we face will be if we try to implement DPR when it is too little, too late. There are two major areas of resistance that I come across often: public acceptance and cost of implementation, and I think cost outweighs public acceptance. Maybe we aren’t thirsty enough yet, but I really hope we don’t get to that point before we begin to implement DPR. It is an area in which everyone should band together instead of working in silos. Rain takes a leisurely horseback ride at MacDonald's Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz. I was born in Afghanistan but moved to the United States as a refugee when I was a toddler. Afghanistan is a country that does not have a reliable source of clean water. I think about how fortunate I am to live in such a wonderful country. There are so many opportunities in the United States. Rain is studying a retrofit of a wastewater treatment plant and reading a permit to confirm that the treatment plant can begin construction on a new phase of design. I enjoy the small things. Every night we sit as a family and eat dinner. My kids are active in sports, and I love attending their events. I really enjoy being on the trails near my house. The sunsets are gorgeous, and I enjoy walking my rambunctious dogs. I like to crochet every night before bed to turn my mind off. And of course, I love our family vacations. To learn more about Rain's research, visit the article, available online at https://doi.org/10.1002/aws2.1239.

Barriers to Healthy Family Dinners and Preventing Child Obesity: Focus Group Discussions with Parents of 5-to-8-Year-Old Children

Background: Although numerous physical and mental health benefits for children have been linked to family dinners, many families still do not have regular family meals together. This study sought to identify the barriers that keep families from having dinners together. Methods: We interviewed 42 parents of 5-to-8-year-old children in small focus groups to identify barriers and challenges that keep families from having healthy and consistent dinners together. Results: Parents reported the main barriers were time (e.g., time strain and overscheduling, mismatched schedules, long work hours, etc.), lack of meal planning or failure to follow plans, lack of skills (e.g., cooking skills or nutritional awareness), external factors (e.g., daycare, schools, or extended family, and competing with advertising), and food-related challenges (e.g., picky eating, food allergies). Parents also suggested potential solutions to overcome these barriers. Conclusions: Overall, parents had a desire to have family dinners with their children, but they felt that there are many barriers keeping them from establishing or maintaining consistent family mealtimes. Future research, as well as child obesity prevention and intervention efforts, should consider these barriers and suggested solutions in efforts to promote healthy and consistent family meals as a means of lowering the prevalence of childhood obesity.

Food Behaviours and Health Indicators in Manitoba Adolescents and Relation to the Healthy Eating Index.

Adolescence is a vital period of growth and development, both of which are dependent on adequate nutrition; however, concerns persist about poor nutrition and inappropriate food behaviours. In addition to nutrition assessment, the context of food and health behaviour is necessary to understand how dietary choices are shaped and related to diet quality. This study describes food-related behaviours and health indicators associated with dietary quality among adolescents in Manitoba, Canada. A stratified two-stage sampling method was used to collect data on the diet, food behaviours and health indicators of 1587 grade nine students. Diet quality was analysed using the Healthy Eating Index-Canada. Several food behaviours and health indicators varied by gender and school region (urban, rural, northern). The Independent Samples t-test and one-way ANOVA (analysis of variance) assessed differences between groups on the Healthy Eating Index-Canada. Higher Healthy Eating Index-Canada scores were found for those eating family dinners more frequently; consuming breakfast and lunch more frequently; consuming breakfast at home; eating lunch and morning snacks at school; purchasing fewer meals and snacks from cafeterias and vending machines; believing that food and nutrition education is important; not attempting to lose weight; being classified as 'healthy weight'; and getting more sleep. Many Manitoba youth are exhibiting food and health behaviours that increase their risk of having a poor diet.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between family meals frequency and children's overweight/obesity in families at high risk of type 2 diabetes: The Feel4Diabetes-study.

The frequency of family meals has been suggested as a protective factor against obesity among children. This study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between family meals frequency and children's overweight/obesity in families at high risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) across six European countries. 989 parent-child dyads (52% girls and 72% mothers) were included. Participants completed validated measures to assess the frequency of family meals and anthropometrics. Multivariable regression models were applied to examine the longitudinal associations between family meals frequency and overweight/obesity in children. Logistic regression was performed to predict the odds of having overweight/obesity depending on changes in family meals frequency over a two-year follow-up period. Analyses were stratified for children's sex. High frequency of family breakfasts and/or dinners was inversely associated with children's BMI in boys and girls at T2. Results showed decreased odds of overweight/obesity at follow-up among both boys (OR=0.65; 95% CI 0.41, 0.96) and girls (OR=0.53; 95% CI 0.31, 0.87) who consumed minimum of three times family breakfasts and/or family dinners a week at baseline. An increase in family breakfasts and/or dinners frequency was associated with lower odds of overweight/obesity in both boys and girls at follow-up. A high frequency of family breakfasts and/or dinners but not lunch during childhood is associated with lower odds of overweight/obesity development in children from families at high risk of T2D. The promotion of family meals could help in preventing the development of overweight/obesity among children.

1166. Botulism poisoning fatalities linked to home-canned food products - Tajikistan, 2021

Abstract Background Botulism is a rare but fatal illness often caused by consumption of foods containing Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins. We investigated an outbreak among people having attended a family dinner in Kushkiya village, Tajikistan in December 2021. Methods We interviewed dinner participants using a structured questionnaire to collect clinical, demographic, and prior 48-hour food histories. We abstracted data from medical records. A case was defined as a person who attended the event with symptoms clinically compatible with botulism. Results Thirteen people attended the dinner event. Of these, 10 (77%) were classified as a case. Case-patients ages ranged from 2 to 40 years old; five were children < 12 years old. All case-patients had muscle weakness, dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, and vomiting. Two had abdominal pain, five had symmetric paresis, two had shortness of breath, and two had double vision. Median time from dinner event to development of symptoms was 22 hours (range 17-30 hours). Four patients (40%) were hospitalized in serious condition, including two children in comas. Four patients died (40%). Deaths occurred on average 48 hours after the dinner (range 41-55 hours). All ten cases had eaten homemade canned salad. Two other dinner participants ate the canned salad, but did not get sick. The canned salad was made of tomatoes, onions, garlic, and oil. It had been prepared in September 2021. Due to limited capacity for botulism testing in Tajikistan diagnostics were not performed. The infectious disease hospital did not have botulism antitoxin in stock upon patient admission. Deceased patients had not received antitoxin. On the third day after exposure, botulism antitoxin (A, B, C and E) was given to 9 dinner participants; all of whom survived. Conclusion The high case fatality rate highlights the need to increase clinician awareness of botulism, educate and improve their ability to provide emergency and respiratory care, and ensure stocks of anti-botulinum serum in health facilities. Additionally, improved national diagnostic capabilities to detect botulism and identify toxin types can help identify sources. Lastly, public health messaging may help increase safe food preparation practices. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

Family Dinners and Family Relationships following the Initial Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic

In the context of the COVID-19 shutdowns, we explored associations between family dinner and family well-being among 731 adult parents in the United States who currently had at least one child residing in their home. The panel survey was administered during the summer of 2020 (June 18 through July 22). Participants were asked to respond to questions about relational processes before the COVID-19 shutdowns, at the height of the shutdowns, and currently (i.e., at the time of data collection). Results suggest that maintaining regular family meals or increasing the frequency of these meals was associated with increased closeness and more positive perceptions of the impact of the pandemic. Participants’ qualitative responses to several open-ended questions are used to provide additional insights and nuance to the quantitative findings.

Human Riddles in Behavioral Economics

Human behavior is a diverse, complex, and highly interesting phenomenon. Despite the many differences that exist between any two people, we can find patterns that characterize typical behaviors in various situations, such as in a classroom or at a family dinner. The research field called behavioral economics studies human behavior in financial situations. In this article, I will present the main findings of the prospect theory, which I developed together with the late Amos Tversky. Prospect theory explains human choices in situations that involve gambling, and it answers questions such as whether people consider gains and losses equally and how a person’s initial financial situation influences the value they give to gains and losses. At the end of the article, I will share important insights from my scientific career and explain why happiness has two faces.

Socioeconomic inequalities in toothbrushing behaviours in young children: a children's lifestyle survey in a representative population of A city, Okinawa prefecture, Japan.

We have less understanding of which socioeconomic status (SES) indicators may be reflective of latent socioeconomic inequalities in toothbrushing behaviours, especially finishing-toothbrushing by parents in young children. The aim of this study was to reveal the socioeconomic inequalities in children's toothbrushing and finishing-toothbrushing by parents and if it varies by SES indicators. We used data from 'Survey on Children's Life' conducted by A city of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The multiple imputed data of 902 (boys, 453) included self-reported children's toothbrushing behaviour and finishing-toothbrushing by parents in three-to six-year-old children. SES was assessed using self-reported household income and parental educational attainment. Absolute and relative inequalities in toothbrushing behaviours were quantified using the slope index of inequality (SII) and relative index of inequality (RII), respectively. There were significant absolute and relative inequalities of children's toothbrushing for household income (SII and RII were 0.241 and 2.73, respectively), of finishing-toothbrushing by parents for household income (SII and RII were 0.133 and 3.28, respectively), and educational attainment (SII and RII were 0.166 and 5.55, respectively). The same inequality trends were observed after adjusting for covariates (child's age and sex, family structure, breakfast and dinner frequency, and sleep duration). Socioeconomic inequalities in children's toothbrushing and finishing-toothbrushing by parents varied according to SES indicators.

Family dinner: Transcriptional plasticity of five Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) feeding on three host plant species.

Polyphagous insects often show specialization in feeding on different host plants in terms of survival and growth and, therefore, can be considered minor or major pests of particular hosts. Whether polyphagous insects employ a common transcriptional response to cope with defenses from diverse host plants is under‐studied. We focused on patterns of transcriptional plasticity in polyphagous moths (Noctuidae), of which many species are notorious pests, in relation to herbivore performance on different host plants. We compared the transcriptional plasticity of five polyphagous moth species feeding and developing on three different host plant species. Using a comparative phylogenetic framework, we evaluated if successful herbivory, as measured by larval performance, is determined by a shared or lineage‐specific transcriptional response. The upregulated transcriptional activity, or gene expression pattern, of larvae feeding on the different host plants and artificial control diet was highly plastic and moth species‐specific. Specialization, defined as high herbivore success for specific host plants, was not generally linked to a lower number of induced genes. Moths that were more distantly related and showing high herbivore success for certain host plants showed shared expression of multiple homologous genes, indicating convergence. We further observed specific transcriptional responses within phylogenetic lineages. These expression patterns for specific host plant species are likely caused by shared evolutionary histories, for example, symplesiomorphic patterns, and could therefore not be associated with herbivore success alone. Multiple gene families, with roles in plant digestion and detoxification, were widely expressed in response to host plant feeding but again showed highly moth species‐specific. Consequently, high herbivore success for specific host plants is also driven by species‐specific transcriptional plasticity. Thus, potential pest moths display a complex and species‐specific transcriptional plasticity.

The Chimes at Christmas

Abstract Thornton Wilder’s 1931 one-act play The Long Christmas Dinner presents several challenges in staging. This article records the experiences of a student production— from early rehearsal through performance—mounted at the University of South Carolina Sumter. The production also included Wilder’s other 1931 one-act The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden. The article describes how the production handled the allegorical portals of birth and death in The Long Christmas Dinner, and how the production endeavored to communicate the play’s compression of 150 years of family dinners into a thirty-minute performance. It describes the production’s innovative techniques which replicated the play’s sound effects and stage movement.

Evaluation of MyCOVIDRisk App Users: An Updated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Tool for Public Use

Background The MyCOVIDRisk app is a free web-based tool for the public to quickly estimate the likelihood of COVID-19 infection based on individual behavior, environmental factors, and local case counts. User input of activities and mitigation measures impact the modifiable risk estimates. Originally launched in October 2020, an updated version was released in November 2021 to account for the transmission dynamics of delta and omicron variants and the protective effects of vaccination. Objective This study aims to assess trends in (1) user characteristics, (2) projected risk level, and (3) mitigation measures selected by users since the app’s inception. Methods We tracked overall site usage with Google Analytics. To describe user inputs (preferred activities, gathering sizes, vaccination status, and other risk mitigation steps), we aggregated back-end app data logging at every run of the risk analysis algorithm. We calculated descriptive statistics. Results As of March 1, 2022, the MyCOVIDRisk app has been used 1,339,940 times (1,231,546 times in v1 and 108,394 times in v2). Multiple characteristics of activities changed across the 2 versions. For example, the top activity in v1 was “Visiting Friend’s House” (22.6%, n=146,399); versus “Family Dinner” in v2 (21.3%, n=19,724). In v1, only 0.7% of users who were originally “high risk” and 10.8% of those who were originally “moderate risk” decreased their predicted risk to “low” using layered mitigation steps. In v2, in comparison, 24.4% of high-risk and 24.8% of moderate-risk activities were decreased to low risk. Conclusions The MyCOVIDRisk App allows individuals to assess in real time risk of being infected by SARS-CoV-2. Using app-directed mitigation steps, users were able to reduce their predicted risk of COVID-19 transmission during daily activities. Patterns of mask use and types of activities changed over time. In v2, users were more likely to report being vaccinated or boosted and wearing masks compared to what national statistics suggest. Future iterations of the app should assess actual change in behavior and should aim to reach those who are not currently vaccinated or masking. Acknowledgments We would like to thank Rebecca Wang, Jason Peres da Silva, and Anusha Rahman. Conflicts of Interest None declared.

Inhibition of Microencapsulated Liquid Smoke on the Foodborne Pathogens and Histamine-Forming Bacterias’ Growth in Tuna Loin Sashimi

Sashimi, a unique and simple fresh fish dish, is commonly served at a restaurant or as a family dinner in Japan. Because sashimi was created from fresh tuna loin, it is easily ruined by spoilage germs and pathogens, particularly when served without ice. Apart from ice, new preservatives must be investigated to avoid pathogenic and histamine-producing microorganisms. Liquid smoke (LS) contains antimicrobial chemicals including organic acids, carbonyl, and phenols from pyrolyzing coconut shells. However, because the evidence of physicochemical features of LS is scarce, research into liquid smoke microencapsulation is required. 
 The researchers wanted to figure out how liquid smoke microencapsulation (LSM) is made, how effective it is against harmful germs, and how much total histamine is present in LSM-coated sashimi maintained at room temperature. Histamine content, antibacterial inhibitory activity, total microbial count (TPC) of Salmonella and E. coli, water content, and pH level were tested. According to the findings, LSM with maltodextrin: sago flour: 1% LS ratio of 10: 1: 5 efficiently prevented E. coli and Salmonella development and reduced histamine level in sashimi refrigerated for 6 days in the refrigerator.

Saturdays

My mom was the director of education at the Fowler before I was born, which meant that from the time I could walk, I was running around the museum. In other words, there has never been a point in my life when Doran wasn't there. I remember climbing onto the elephant in the center of his office, helping his office file papers during summer breaks, and being introduced by Doran to larger-than-life idols at exhibition openings. Later, this turned into family dinners and celebrating holidays together, with Doran as my mom's partner.I always saw him as a man of great height, wit, intellect, and generosity. But our relationship changed when I became his research assistant during the last three years of his life. Over the course of four hours, every Saturday, we developed our own language, routines, and jokes. We shared stories that neither had heard, and reflected together on what remains at the end of one's life. If I had known that Saturday would have been our last, I would've cherished its sweetness more. I am ever grateful that I got to build my own relationship with Doran, and I will miss his presence always.

Association Between Eating Habits and Perceived School Performance: A Cross-Sectional Study Among 46,455 Adolescents From 42 Countries.

PurposeThis study analyzed the association between selected self-reported eating habits and perceived school performance in adolescents by gender.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis was conducted with data from a large representative sample of adolescents from 42 different countries. Participants answered questions about their weekly frequency of fruit, vegetable, sweets, and soft drink consumption, as well as the frequency of breakfast consumption and family meals. The adolescents subjectively rated their school performance compared to that of their classmates. Logistic regression models were adjusted for region, age, body mass index (z-score), socioeconomic status, physical activity, recreational screen time, and sleep difficulties.ResultsAmong the 46,455 (53.5% female, mean age of 13.7 ± 1.6 years) adolescents studied, 20.6% of males and 25.5% of females reported high perceived school performance. In the results of the fully adjusted analyses, the higher the frequency of all healthy eating habits studied, the higher the perceived school performance in both males and females. Specifically, both males and females reporting a higher frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption, a lower frequency of sweets and soft drink consumption, more frequent breakfast consumption, and more frequent family meals (breakfast and dinner) were more likely to perceive their school performance as higher compared to their classmates. In addition, having breakfast regularly on weekends and the frequency of family dinner were associated with better school performance in both males and females.ConclusionsIn summary, this study provide cross-sectional evidence on the association between healthy eating habits and perceived school performance. Considering that school performance is an indicator of healthy development in adolescence, our findings reinforce and extend the evidence on the importance of healthy eating at this stage of life.

“El Viudo De Pescado”

“El Viudo De Pescado”

Table for One

Table for One

Exploring the role of family communication time in the association between family dinner frequency and adolescent psychological distress

Although research shows that family dinner is associated with adolescent psychological well-being, it is unclear whether this association still exists when parent-adolescent communication is limited particularly in today’s high-tech society where frequent family meals may not necessarily co-exist with frequent family communication. We therefore examined the relationships among adolescent psychological distress, parent-adolescent dinner frequency, and parent-adolescent communication time using data from 826 parent-adolescent dyads. Adolescents self-reported symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress in the preceding month using the validated Chinese version of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale – 21 (DASS-21). Their parents reported the frequency of breakfasts and dinners, duration of daily communication with the adolescent, and other family sociodemographic characteristics. Moderated regression analysis was used to examine associations of adolescent psychological distress with parent-adolescent dinner frequency and parent-adolescent non-conflictual communication time. We found that parent-adolescent non-conflictual communication time was independently and significantly associated with adolescent DASS Depression (β = -1.31, p < 0.001), Anxiety (β = -0.84, p < 0.001), and Stress (β = -1.00, p < 0.001) scores, but parent-adolescent dinner frequency was not. Furthermore, adolescents reported lower levels of depression and stress only when they concurrently engaged in both everyday dinner and regular non-conflictual communication with parents. Findings emphasize the importance of regular dinner and non-conflictual communication with parents for adolescent psychological well-being.

How to do things with food: The rules and roles of mealtime ‘things’ in everyday family dinners

AbstractThis study examines the local enactment of mealtime rules during everyday family dinners. The data is approached through multimodal interaction analysis and through concepts which reconceptualize materiality and agency. The study found that mealtime rules were generated and sometimes sustained in the continuous interaction between parents, children and food and mealtime things, especially in relation to material textures, for example liquid, solid, can roll, elastic. Family mealtime rules moreover affected how family morality emerged. The study found that family morality was about much more than parental concerns with children's eating, rather, it was likewise about play and enjoyment.

Family identity construction: an interpretation of the Lunar New Year's Eve dinner consumption ritual

PurposeFamily dinner on Lunar New Year's Eve is the most important and most ritualized feast for families in China. It is the time for the entire family to reunite. Families gather together to reflect their past and talk about the future. Through the lens of consumer culture theories, this study explores how Chinese consumers construct family identity.Design/methodology/approachBased on constant comparative analysis of primary data including in-depth interviews and participant observation, and secondary data including historical archives, cultural tracing, documentary reports and essays, the authors deconstruct the consumption rituals of family dinner on Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve. The authors focus on four aspects, including participants, place, time and related activities, and analyze Chinese consumers' ritual experiences.FindingsThe authors’ findings show how young consumers construct and strengthen individual self-identity, relational identity and family identity in various ways through consumption and ritual practices during Chinese Lunar New Year celebration.Originality/valueThe study of family dinner on Lunar New Year's Eve helps the authors understand contemporary consumer culture in three aspects. First, it helps the authors understand the relationship between consumption and culture. Second, the study shows the changes and continuities of consumption rituals. Third, the research highlights the experience of “home” among contemporary Chinese consumers.

Paris Calligrammes par Ulrike Ottinger

Reviewed by: Paris Calligrammes par Ulrike Ottinger Maria G. Traub Ottinger, Ulrike, réal. Paris Calligrammes. Int. Jenny Agutter, Fanny Ardant. Zero One, 2020. The decade known as the “sixties” was a period of intellectual activity and social unrest, fomenting upheaval and breaks with tradition. Arriving in Paris as a hitchhiker, Ulrike Ottinger, an artist from Germany, accepts transport from a group whom she suspects are bank robbers. Her entry into Paris is thus heralded by adventure and surprise. In his Saint-Germain bookshop, “Librairie Calligrammes,” she meets Fritz Picard, a German expatriate, who becomes a good friend and literary mentor. He includes her in his intellectual social circle, and suggests books for her to read. Picard’s guest book is a virtual who’s who of renowned artists, writers, thinkers, and journalists working in or visiting Paris and having stopped by his shop. Titled film sequences showcase meetings or work sessions with famous artists and memorable events. In one, we observe Ulrike’s studies under Johnny Friedlander, noted expert on the art of etching. Welcomed as his guest at family dinners, she met many artists. Living in Saint-Germain, she encountered Raymond Duncan, brother of dancer Isadora Duncan. Raymond habitually dressed in a toga he had woven for himself, following his philosophy of life: one should limit one’s needs to what one could make. From one eccentric’s lifestyle, we move to that of Algerian immigrants in the bidonvilles at the outskirts of Paris, followed by scenes of the October 1961 protest which began peacefully but morphed into a brutal and bloody conflict. The protests against the French involvement in Vietnam as well as the student protests of 1968 appear in film clips that give visual testimony to the efforts of bringing about change, either peacefully or violently. Daniel Cohn-Bendit, the well-known student leader challenging the educational system, is shown as a provocative spokesperson in the footage. Culturally, we are treated to clips of world-class performances at the Odéon Theater, celebrities attending film premieres and noteworthy museums. Ottinger shows samples of Pop Art or Nouvelle Figuration which became part of her own work. From this perspective, the phenomenon of Dadaist influence is apparent in her way of portraying images and scrapping traditional approaches. Presenting an array of historical photographs and documentary footage, we follow experiences and influences in Ottinger’s life in Paris. A poetry reading of Walter Mehring’s work concerning the persecution of German writers by the Nazis is a long, plaintive cry against suppression. Not only exploring intellectual and cultural circles in the city, she also observed and discussed political and social incidents, as well as iconic Parisian places such as Les Halles, which has unfortunately disappeared. These dimensions of the film make it an historical time capsule. The information this film provides both visually and verbally is useful for the study of French civilization. A drawback is the lack of in-depth coverage of any one issue. Used in the classroom in short clips, it provides immersion into the decade’s zeitgeist. As a documentary, it is an interdisciplinary tool for history, political science, or art and film classes. [End Page 219] Maria G. Traub Neumann University (PA) Copyright © 2022 American Association of Teachers of French