HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
Stressed out at work? A new study shows if you're a parent, your job stress could be linked to your child's waistline.
The Journal of Social Science & Medicine published a study by obesity researchers. It shows children of parents who work full-time do not eat as healthy.
The results were more exaggerated when the parent working was the mother. Those families ate fewer meals together, ate more fast-food meals and fewer fruits and veggies. Researchers found that moms who work full time also spend less time on making food for their families than moms who work part time or who don't work outside the home.
Tammy Beasley, Registered Dietician and author of the lifestyle dieting book "Rev It Up!" said parents in this situation need to make an effort to plan meals for the week ahead on the weekends when there's more time to focus on it.
"Grab a family member, a child, take them with you, go to the grocery store and get ready for the stressful week," Beasley said. "Take advantage of the healthy but convenient options that the grocery store provides for you."
She suggests buying things like frozen vegetables that can steam in the microwave, pre-washed salads, pre-cut melons and minute brown rice to help ease your work load during the week and still give your kids a healthy meal.
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