The squarer the eyes, the less likely a child is to eat vegetables

The squarer the eyes, the less likely a child is to eat vegetables

The latest PMA Freshline reports on a new study that reveals a direct correlation between TV watching and vegetable consumption.

The more television children watch the less fruit and vegetables they eat, probably because the advertising they see leaves them craving junk food instead, reported the journal Pediatrics.

Children surveyed for the study who spent more time watching television ate 0.16 fewer servings of fruit and vegetables for every extra hour watched. That additional hour a day of TV watching added up to one less nutritional serving every six days.

At the start of the survey in 1995, the children, who averaged 12 years of age, ate an average of 4.23 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, which was below the US government-recommended five daily servings.

The study, conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health, noted that most food advertising aired during children's shows conflict with healthy eating habits.