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The Adventures of Family Meals

By: Sue Borra, RD, Chief Health and Wellness Officer for FMI and Executive Director of the FMI Foundation   Family Meal Around the Table When my kids were growing up every night we’d sit around the dinner table and I’d ask them to tell me something good about their day. When they were young I’d get tales about games on the playground and new storybooks. As they grew up, I was relearning biology experiments and important moments in the Revolutionary War. Even today in my family meals with my friends and colleagues, I often hear highlights from their trips to places like Iceland and about hobbies like sky diving. This all makes me think that family meals really are an adventure, because whether you’re the one telling the story or hearing it for the first time, around a family meal is where adventures get shared.

This September, I invite grocery and supplier companies to celebrate the adventures of family meals as part of National Family Meals Month™. Family meals eaten at home have been proven to benefit the health and wellness of children and adolescents, to fight obesity, substance abuse and to make families stronger. Food retailers and suppliers across the nation make family meals easier for today’s shoppers, so they can experience the benefits of one more family meal at home each week including hearing adventures of the day. 

During the month, the FMI Foundation  will be sharing messages on the benefits of family meals by partnering with Litton Entertainment’s Weekend Adventure which airs each Saturday morning on ABC stations. Litton will highlight the nation’s grocers, National Family Meals Month and encourage viewers to share a meal through an on-air spot during family-friendly, educational and informational Saturday Morning Programming on ABC stations nationwide. The promotion is themed to inspire millions of viewers to “share an adventure and a family meal” and can be seen during popular shows such as Ocean Mysteries  and Rock The Park  on Litton’s Weekend Adventure.  The message is simple: Where life takes you, recount your favorite moments around the family table as you share a meal at home.  Watch the 20-second spot that will be airing all month.

We look forward to hearing about all the creative ways grocers and suppliers are encouraging family meals during the month of September and we plan to recognize the most creative programs with a the 2016 Gold Plate Award. Please submit your program by October 30th at www.fmi.org/GoldPlateAwards