Eat Better, Eat Together Month!

October 1, 2020

Hi Hamama Friends!

October is National Eat Better, Eat Together Month! The goal is to encourage families (or friends, neighbors, classmates, & coworkers) to gather for mealtimes. When families share their meals together, they tend to be more balanced food choices. Beyond health and nutrition, sharing meals with others creates a great opportunity for people to connect.

Why are shared meals so powerful?

Eating with your family and friends on a regular basis has been associated with improved social skills, better eating habits, and fewer behavioral problems in teenagers. It is also helpful for reducing stress in adults! The frequency of shared family meals is significantly related to nutritional health in children and adolescents. Children and adolescents who share family meals 3 or more times per week are more likely to be in a normal weight range and have healthier dietary and eating patterns than those who share fewer than 3 family meals together. In addition, they are less likely to engage in disordered eating.¹

Sharing a family meal provides an experience that touches all of our senses – sight, touch, taste, smell and listening to warm laughter or good conversation. Family meals help provide a regular, consistent opportunity to create a shared experience that is meaningful and offers a sense of belonging to all. Research has shown that regular and meaningful family meals offer a large variety of benefits to both children and parents. Shared meals can also be extended to friends, neighbor, classmates, and coworkers to build a stronger sense of community.²

Why Eat Better, Eat Together Month is Important:

So many of us have forgotten how to truly enjoy a meal. This month spotlights one of the most important things we do to survive -eat!
It encourages community spirit through sharing meals! We often are so removed from what is going on in the lives of those closest to us because of our busy schedules. Time to reconnect!
It encourages us to be more conscious about what we're eating.

How to observe Eat Better, Eat Together this month:

Follow these 5 simple tips and use #EatBetterEatTogetherMonth to post on social media! Also be sure to top those meals off with some healthy Hamama microgreens to really step up your presentation and nutrition game!

Make at least one meal together a week

Designate one day a week when the whole family makes a meal together. Get the kids involved. If you live away from your family, invite your neighbors, friends or coworkers. Get everyone involved in the cooking and table setting. No matter the age of the family member, no one should be left out. From forks to boiling water, there’s a task for everyone.

Hamama Warehouse Team Members breaking for lunch together

Virtual lunches (school / work)

Working or schooling remotely? Set aside a day or two this month to have a virtual lunch with your coworkers or classmates

Team Happiness virtually sharing a Hamama Lunch together :D

Try something new

Take an imaginary trip around the world by trying a recipe from another culture / country. See something interesting at the grocery store, like kumquats, jicama, sunchokes, white asparagus, broccolini or shishito peppers? Is there a microgreen flavor you haven’t tried yet? Check out our all of our varieties and mix it up! Make a point to grab something new and incorporate it into your meal this month!

Pantry clean-up

Stow away the cookies and chips. Replace them with some healthy alternatives! Some great options for kids and adults alike include natural fruit leather, raw nuts/seeds, low-sugar granola bars, nut butter with celery or apple slices, dried fruit, and unsweetened applesauce.

Put your electronics away during meal times

This one is a no-brainer! By putting away electronics that disconnect us from our face-to-face relationships, we demonstrate the importance of being present with our loved ones. Tip - Make a “jail cell” box for your cell phones and electronics to stay in during mealtime.