Regardless of how busy our lives are, I’ve always strived to at least sit down and enjoy dinner together. Some days we’re able to gather around the table and enjoy a meal complete with full conversation. Other days we’re lucky if dinner is a quick sandwich and a fast recap of the day and then we’re off to our next activity. The definition of family and family dinners is different to everyone. It might be leftovers night served on tv trays, breakfast for dinner at the kitchen table (one of my favorites), or even hot dogs and hamburgers while sitting on the lawn. However you get together for your meals, The Billion Family Dinners Challenge wants to celebrate those unique experiences.
The Billion Family Dinners Challenge
The goal of the Billion Family Dinners Challenge is to unite the family. There are significant health and wellness benefits of being fully present for 30 minutes each day and having a family dinner. Some of those are:
- Increase wellness
- Reduce stress
- Increase happiness
- Keep you informed
- Change lives
- Help your family
- Reduce obesity
Leading researchers have found other benefits including decreasing cyber bullying and increasing literacy. These benefits are the reason the crusade for shared family meals has grown in recent years. When they mention being “fully present” it means setting aside our smartphones and tablets and actively engaging in conversation. The Billion Family Dinners Challenge launches in cooperation with the National Family Meals Month™ – a movement in September encouraging families to eat one more meal at home per week. Both are looking to bring the family back together with the potential to change society at large.
Participating in The Billion Family Diners Challenge is easy. Start by downloading the free DinnerCall app. It’s available through the Apple App and Google Play stores. Use the app to track your family dinners as well as share those experiences with the hashtag #BillionDinners. Upload images from your dinner to instantly share on social media as well as view other family dinners in progress. The app provides conversation starters such as “If you found $10 in the garage, what would you do with it?” and even gives recipe ideas like a sausage, egg, and avocado breakfast salad.
The Billion Family Dinners Challenge will be met and we’ll see positive outcomes if each American family logs just 10 dinners. I’m excited to use the app, I think it’s so important to spend time with your family and you might as well do that around a bite to eat. The conversation starters sound like a lot of fun too!
“To join in tracking 10 Family Dinners in 2 weeks, take the #billiondinners challenge today! The 10 in 2 challenge is simple: sit down to 10 family meals in the next 2 weeks. In just 10 meals, you’ll begin to see a difference. In just 10 meals, dinnertime will be something your family looks forward to each night.”
