In case you're wondering . . .

I case you may be wondering why I have all of these posts about family meals and together-time, let me briefly explain.

I'm currently enrolled in (and finishing up) Communications 416: Media Advocacy and Social Change. Part of this course's assignments are to (1) Conduct a group case analysis on a topic of your choice and (2) Complete a social advocacy project of your choice.

My group chose to analyze the recent movement for structured family time. We focused on three particular organizations which we feel are leading the movement: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Focus on the Family, and Stouffer's. We painstakingly analyzed these organization's role in the family movement.

As I studied the movement and the things the aforementioned and other organizations were doing to forward the movement and affect change, I decided I wanted to try and make some sort of difference as well. This inspired me to create a blog as part of my social advocacy project - a blog through which I could communicate the researched benefits of family dinners and family time, as well as those I have noticed in my home and as my family evolves.

Originally, this social advocacy blog was separate from my personal one, but as I began to complete the required hours for the project, I decided I would rather include the posts here. I hope to continue making weekly posts regarding the family and its importance.

So, as I said, if you're wondering where the random posts about the family and family dinners came from - there's your reason. I just imported all the old posts today.

-Whitney

Resources Everywhere

It's amazing how many resources there are regarding family time.

Today, I found that Louisiana State University AgCenter (LSUAg) has a Web page devoted to parenting and families at LSUAgCenter.com. They have several articles pertaining to families and spending time together. Viewers can rate the articles, select related articles, or narrow by sub-topics.

I also found and article on the LSU AgCenter Web site entitled, "Mom's Time Out." The article was complete with suggestions on how mothers can relax with limited time and many demands. The AgCenter does extensive research in Agriculture (as likely noted) and children and families (such as childhood obesity).

Featured Recipe:

Pizza Noodle (or Baked Pasta with Sausage)

• 1 lb. package of pasta (penne, rigatoni, shells, farfale, rotini, or ruote will work, really any type of pasta is fine)
• 1 can or jar of spaghetti sauce (any flavor will do, I prefer 4 cheese)
• 1 lb. ground sausage (mild, medium, or hot)
• 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

Cook pasta per package directions. Thoroughly cook sausage. Combine cooked pasta, sausage and spaghetti sauce into a 13 x 9 pan, coating all the pasta and sausage with sauce. Top with mozzarella cheese and bake at 425* until cheese is melted.

This recipe is super simple and so delicious. It's one of my favorites! My family has always called it "Pizza Noodle," though I'm sure it has another name. I love this with salad and a piece of garlic bread.

Why I Love Family Meals

I love family meals because it is a time when I can relax and converse with my family. It seems like our days just get busier and busier, but when we make time for dinner together as a family, things fall into place.

I'm grateful for the opportunity I have had to study the benefits and outcomes of frequent family dinners. As I have worked on a case analysis for one of my communications classes, I have learned a great deal about the difference eating together as a family can make.

Because of this knowledge of the importance of family dinners (and family time in general), I have made spending time as a family a priority in my life. My husband and I have many goals, and most of them are concerning our family.

I hope today's movement for structured family time, family meals, and families will be successful and touch many lives. I truly believe that families are capable of so much and I hope other people will realize this as well.

Featured Recipe: 

Sour Cream Enchiladas

• 1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 can diced green chiles
• 2 shredded chicken breasts
• 10 flour tortillas
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 
• Optional: 1 small can diced jalapenos

Combine the Cream of Chicken soup, sour cream, green chiles, and jalapenos in a large mixing bowl. Spread part of the chicken in a tortilla, add a tablespoon of sauce, top with cheese, and roll. Place into a 13 x 9 pan. Repeat until chicken and tortillas are all used. Spread the remaining cream mixture on top of the rolled tortillas. Top with remaining cheddar cheese and bake in the oven at 400* until the cheese is completely melted.

Family Day

The National Center on Alcohol and Substance Abuse (CASA) has initiated Family Day - A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children. Family Day is a movement reminding parents and families that dinner makes a difference in the lives of children.

The Web site contains examples of public service announcements that have aired on stations such as CBS, as well as what's in the news about family dinners, parenting tips, and how to be a STAR Parent.

Family Day, 2010 is on September 27th.

Here is one of the featured public service announcements:

http://casafamilyday.org/familyday/files/media/video/CASA-Family-Day-2008-Public-Service-Announcement.mpg


Featured Recipe:

Taco Salad (From eatingwell.com)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup prepared salsa
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 1 teaspoon canola oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound 93%-lean ground turkey
• 2 large plum tomatoes, diced
• 1 14-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 8 cups shredded romaine lettuce
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Preparation: 

1. Combine salsa and sour cream in a large bowl.
2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add turkey and cook, stirring often and crumbling with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, beans, cumin and chili powder; cook, stirring, until the tomatoes begin to break down, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in cilantro and 1/4 cup of the salsa mixture.
3. Add lettuce to the remaining salsa mixture in the bowl; toss to coat. To serve, divide the lettuce among 4 plates, top with the turkey mixture and sprinkle with cheese.

My husband and I have created our own variations of this recipe. We have omitted the meat, exchanged the kidney beans for black beans, and have pressed a tortilla into a bowl, filled with lettuce, and topped with the taco mixture. The tomatoes can be exchanged for canned or omitted. Take what you like from the recipe and go with it!
 

 

The Benefits of Family Dinners

Kids who eat 5 or more family meals a week are:

• More likely to get A's and B's in school
• Less likely to feel depressed or suicidal
• More likely to think their parents are proud of them

These are just some of the facts listed on Stouffer's Let's Fix Dinner Web site. The information cited on the site is from The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA), from their September 2009 report: The Importance of Family Dinners V. 

Substantial research concerning family meals has been conducted, and the results are pervasive: Family meals matter! 

Eating dinner with my husband is something I look forward to every day. When we sit down and set aside all the work and distractions of the day, we are free to talk, catch up, and just enjoy each others' company. 

Frequent family meals also provide nutritional and health benefits. According to mealsmatter.org, "Frequent family meals are related to better nutritional intake, and a decreased risk for unhealthy weight control practices and substance abuse."

Life gets busy . . . but isn't family worth the time?


 FEATURED RECIPE:
Pasta Pomodoro

• 1 lb. package angel hair pasta
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups Roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 1/3 cups chicken broth
• Crushed red pepper, to taste (optional)
• Black pepper, to taste
• Salt, to taste
• 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook per package directions until al dente; drain. Pour olive oil in a large, deep skillet over high-heat. Saute onions and garlic until lightly browned. Reduce heat to medium-high and add tomatoes, vinegar, and chicken broth; simmer for about 8 minutes. Stir in red pepper, black pepper, salt, basil, and cooked pasta, tossing thoroughly with sauce. Simmer for about 5 more minutes and serve topped with grated cheese.

You may add more tomatoes if you desire. This is also good topped with grilled chicken.

My husband and I LOVE this dinner. It's simple and delicious!

Thanks mommy & daddy!

Look how awesome my mommy and daddy are! They sent us an Easter basket and cinnamon rolls for General Conference breakfast!! Love you mom & dad!! Thank you Thur-goodies.com for delivering this awesome treat!