<div><p paraid="2005413249" paraeid="{b885f935-302e-4f5c-9267-afb5066da7c2}{11}">By: David Fikes, Executive Director, FMI Foundation </p></div><div><p paraid="507608740" paraeid="{b885f935-302e-4f5c-9267-afb5066da7c2}{17}"><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/nfmm-webinar-infographic.tmb-large-350-.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=9f156cb5_1" style="float:right;margin:10px;" class="-align-right" alt="NFMM Webinar Infographic" sf-size="403047" />Once I was driving in Atlanta and noticed that the street I was on lined up perfectly with a building recently constructed miles away providing a gloriously picturesque view of the structure. I wondered if the dramatic sight lines were intentional. Later that week, on a call with my older brother, an architect, I told him about my experience and asked, when you are designing a building, do you take surrounding street layout into account? Even over the phone, I could feel the smile creep across his face as he responded, “Sometimes good design is by intent, and sometimes it’s by accident.” Then he added, “But of course, you take credit either way. “ </p></div><div><p paraid="451062602" paraeid="{b885f935-302e-4f5c-9267-afb5066da7c2}{111}">My brother’s observation came to mind last week, when I reviewed the results of FMI’s most recent barometer research about the benefits of family meals. For years now, the FMI Foundation has executed research designed to take stock of the nation’s disposition toward family meals. Our 2025 findings again substantiate how valuable family meals are to the mental, emotional and physical health of our nation and substantiate the diverse ways that consumers find them beneficial. And as my brother observed, some of those benefits are intentional and some are accidental – the glorious by-products reaped by the nature of the setting. </p></div><div><p paraid="658814816" paraeid="{b885f935-302e-4f5c-9267-afb5066da7c2}{149}"> For some, the wonder of family meals is found in their nutritional value, a benefit naturally accrued because meals together are known to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. Others focus on the cost-saving value of the family meal, with 61% of respondents planning to have more family meals because they are more economical, allowing them to stretch their food dollars. Still others zero in on the social benefit with a whopping 71% of those surveyed saying that meals together improved family functioning. </p></div><div><p paraid="871842528" paraeid="{b885f935-302e-4f5c-9267-afb5066da7c2}{201}">Whether it’s by design or default, a real benefit of family meals we explored more deeply in this year’s research is the value they offer in combatting the decline of civility in America. Of those surveyed, almost seven out of ten felt that civility in America is worse today compared to ten years ago. The more optimistic finding was that 74% agreed family meals are a great time to have and teach respectful interactions. Additionally, 68% said that frequent family meals create a safe environment for families to discuss the thornier societal issues. Couple those facts with the 66% who agree that sitting at a meal together tends to keep conversations more civil and I think you find family meals to be the best tool available to help restore civility in America. </p></div><div><p paraid="1554022557" paraeid="{07e8fce9-d689-4881-9566-36bf07618923}{8}">On May 22, the FMI Foundation will host a webinar featuring new information and resources for food companies to use in supporting National Family Meals Month in September. These resources will include a civility challenge wherein FMI Member companies are invited to build community by hosting a family meal for select customers and urging participants to replicate the effort among their neighbors. It is our way of making sure civility grows intentionally and not leaving it to hopeful accident. </p></div><div><p paraid="1061031918" paraeid="{07e8fce9-d689-4881-9566-36bf07618923}{46}"><a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/copy-of-2025-family-meals-barometer-summary" target="_blank" class="button">Family Meals Barometer</a> <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/meeting/MeetingFormPublic/view?id=D287BF0000001B" target="_blank" class="button-secondary">Register for the Webinar</a></p></div>
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