By: David Fikes, Executive Director, FMI Foundation
'Tis the season for bowl games and putting up new calendars – yes, I know. I am one of the few who still prefer seeing months laid out on paper, especially if accompanied by a quote from Ted Lasso. It is the time for getting new insurance cards and enjoying past year retrospectives that help us recall the highlights of the year that was. To illustrate the last category, I have a video I wish to bring to your attention that captures not only the glories of 2022 but offers a charming fact-filled review of the history of National Family Meals Month, as well. It shows our humble beginnings and how, through the notable efforts of our retailer, wholesaler, supplier, collaborator and other supporters, we have grown to a year-round promotion of family meals that has garnered support in all fifty states and captured attention in Canada and overseas. In other words, in a mere eight years, we’ve moved from a month-long campaign to a movement and from a national to an international promotion of the many benefits of family meals. Here are a few things you will learn from watching the video:
- The FMI Foundation focuses on WHY family meals matter and relies on our partners to showcase HOW to make more family meals happen using our tools.
- How the COVID-19 pandemic redefined the family meal and forced a change of themes from “eating one more meal a week together” to “Staying Strong with Family Meals.” Our new messaging sought to highlight how family meals keep us connected and remind consumers that - in the midst of the pandemic - family meals are the cornerstone for a healthy nation.
The video spotlights our partnership with the American Heart Association (AHA), in which we promoted the benefits of family meals to heart health. Our joint messaging included quantitative data from AHA studies proving that family meals bolster nutrition and emotional well-being, and that psychological health and heart health are related.
As the connection between mental health, nutrition and overall wellness gained recognition, the FMI Foundation partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in 2022 to showcase the positive impact that family meals have on mental health, physical health and emotional well-being.
A combined effort of more than 1,500 partners has generated billions of media impressions. Thanks to our partners' efforts, the Family Meals Movement continues to grow strong. In 2022, 31% of Americans reported seeing the National Family Meals Month initiative, and more importantly 95% of those reported that it impacted their shopping and consumption habits.
See more from this September's Family Meals Month activities in our 2022 sizzle reel. Visit www.FMIFamilyMeals.com to learn how you and your company can get involved. You can also learn more about the 2022 award-winning programs on our Gold Plate Awards page.
