-- Kids who watch TV at mealtime eat far fewer fruits and vegetables than children who sit down to a quiet dinner, according to new research in the January issue of Pediatrics.

The study followed 91 families in the Washington, D.C. area and found that almost half had the television on during two or three meals a day.

The findings show that in the households with high television viewing habits, children consumed more red meat, salty snacks and twice as much caffeine. "When the TV is on, our attention is diverted and eating can become automatic," said Katharine Coon, lead author of the study who is a nutritional sociologist at Tufts University. "When that happens it's easy to let healthy habits slip away and less healthy habits take over."

Children from families with high television use consumed 6 percent more of their total daily energy intake from meats, 5 percent more from salty snacks and pizza, and 5 percent less from fruits and vegetables than children from families with low television use.

Children participating in the study were in 4th, 5th and 6th grades. Results show those who watched more TV were also more likely to eat without adult supervision or interaction.

"Most children this age really appreciate the time they spend with their parents and turning off the TV and tuning into our children during meals can be very positive," said Koon.

The research indicates there is no connection between the number of hours mothers work outside the home and the amount of television their children watch. But a parent's education appears to play a powerful role: Those with the least amount of schooling tend to keep the television on the most.

This study does not explore the link between TV and obesity in children, which has been widely publicized in previous research. However, Koon says her overall findings suggest so-called "couch-potato" kids may be in for a "double whammy" ... leading a sedentary lifestyle and eating an unhealthy diet.

"In my opinion, the most important public health issue raised by these findings concerns the amount of fruits and vegetables children are eating. There is a very strong link between fruits and vegetables in people's diets and the likelihood they will develop debilitating medical conditions later in life."

Dr. Theresa Nicklas, a professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, says it is important to keep a close watch on family mealtime behaviors and how they affect food choices.

"We know that if parents eat fruits and vegetables for dinner, children are more likely to follow their lead. We also know positive reinforcement works. Increasing kids' exposure to healthy snacks increases their acceptance," said Dr. Nicklas. "But if you are not sitting down to eat dinner, how can you encourage them?"