September is National Family Meals Month!
Stay STRONG With Family Meals!
We understand that you might be starting to experience cooking fatigue due to COVID-19, and our mission is to help! Now more than ever, it is important as children start to go back to school (virtually or in-person) that households build a consistent routine so families can gather for both healthy conversations and nutritious homecooked meals.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed thinking about adding another meal to your schedule, just know you’re not alone. To help you stay strong and feel less stressed, OGA is committed to providing interactive and helpful resources like fun and fresh new recipes, meal planning and shopping guides, conversation starters, family activities, and more!
Why Family Meals?
The goal is simple: pledge to have at least one more meal together, at home, per week. This leads to healthier outcomes for everyone! Data has shown that more family meals lead to:
- Higher grades and self-esteem
- Greater intake of fruits and vegetables
- Lower chances of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease
- Children are more likely to exhibit prosocial behaviors as adults- such as sharing, fairness, and respect
- Lowering the symptoms exhibited for violence, suicide, depression, drug abuse, and risky behaviors
A study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that teens who have fewer than three family dinners per week are:
About National Family Meals Month
As the voice of food retail, the Food Marketing Institute created National Family Meals Month™ as a nationwide, annual event to highlight the mealtime solutions offered by grocers and to encourage families to share one more meal at home per week.