The importance of family meals makes headlines again. On November 11, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, featured Family Dinners Improve Kids’ Health, Grades; How Not to Dread Them.

In the 1970’s, family meals were on the decline. According to a recent study, “Sixty-one percent of youths ages 12 through 17 said they ate dinner with their families at least five nights a week in 2003, up from 47% in 1998”

Communities everywhere are convinced that sharing meals builds healthier families. Putting Family First has been promoting it for several years. Two other local groups from Minnesota are asking families to pledge to eat dinner together at least four times each week. Major companies are also supporting the trend. General Mills and “Dinner Made Easy” helped sponsor Family Day. Even TV Land and Nick at Nite have joined forces behind “”The Family Table-Share More than Meals, a pro-social initiative designed to celebrate all of our unique families, and to encourage loved ones to reconnect.

The holiday season is approaching with a varied list of dinner rituals; this is a great time to be reminded how beneficial the family meal can be.

Posted by Susan at 11/15/2004 01:51:39 PM | Link