September is ‘Family Mealtime’ Month

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  September is ‘Family Mealtime’ Month

  September is ‘Family Mealtime’ Month

• September is ‘Family Mealtime’ Month

  September is ‘Family Mealtime’ Month

September is a special month for AgriLife Extension as we “Celebrate Family Mealtime.” We know everyone is busy with work and after- school activities, plus technology always having us “plugged in,” often we miss face-to-face connections with our family. Family meals provide a great opportunity for family members to connect because everyone must eat! Throughout September, we are encouraging everyone to have meals as a family and here at Dinner Tonight, we will highlight special recipes and tips to do just that! Research shows that sitting down three times per week as a family has many benefits among these are:

• Reducing the odds of being overweight & potentially obesity

• Reduction in eating unhealthy foods

• Reduction in odds for a child to experience an eating disorder

• Increase in eating healthy foods

To get started, commit to having your family sit down at least three times a week to eat together, and use this as a time to: share family stories, learn about everyone’s day, set family goals, and make plans for future activities.

Remember, meals do not have to be fancy or gourmet to make mealtime special, the focus is on getting everyone together. We hope you take the challenge to sit down at least 3 times per week during the month of September to engage in family mealtime! Share your photos with us on Facebook & Instagram by tagging us or using the #familymealtime. Check back with us throughout September to learn more about the benefits of family mealtime and tips and recipes to make it easy. You can see our Kid Friendly Recipes and more on our Dinner Tonight website. Even if you have a picky eater, there are tips and tricks to help navigate that tricky situation on our Dinner Tonight website. https://dinnertonight. tamu.edu/recipes- kid-friendly/ For information about Family Mealtime, please visit our Facebook page at DeWitt County Extension or call the DeWitt County Extension Office at 361275-0816. You can also email Denise Goebel at dgoebel@ag.tamu.edu.