M&M Meat Shops is encouraging Canadians to turn off the TV, log off from their computers and power down cell phones and participate in the Seventh Annual National Family Dinner Night on Thursday, Sept. 15.
The event celebrates what matters most – spending quality time with family and friends. The importance of family dinners reaches far beyond simply sharing a meal together.
Research shows that gathering around the table presents a valuable opportunity to interact, strengthen relationships and affirm the value of every individual in the family and their role in their community.
Unplug and Tune In
A recent national study conducted by Canadian Omnibus reveals that as we become increasingly immersed in the digital age, the intrusion of electronic communication devices during traditional times, such as family meals, is spiralling. Eighty per cent of Canadians admit to having at least one type of electronic communication device turned on and in use during family meals. More than half of Canadians (51 per cent) revealed that the TV stays on at mealtimes. While research shows the propensity to have these devices turned on during family meals, more than 81 per cent of Canadians say that they would enjoy dinner more without these distractions; an indication that Canadians still hold this traditional event sacred and meaningful.
“Sitting down for a meal together can have a lasting, positive effect on open communication between children and parents and re-establish a sense of family unity,” says Mac Voisin, Founder of M&M Meat Shops. “It’s time to unplug, at least during dinner, so that our electronic distractions don’t get in the way of this special time.”
National Family Dinner Night attracts tremendous public and charitable support every year and has contributed significantly to the more than $21.5 million M&M Meat Shops has raised for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC). This year, M&M Meat Shops urges everyone in Canada to register their participation and demonstrate the importance of getting together with the people who matter most in their lives.
Register Your Participation
For everyone who registers their pledge to participate in National Family Dinner Night on the website: www.nationalfamilydinnernight.com, M&M Meat Shops will make a $1 donation to the CCFC, up to a maximum of $100,000.
The Unplugged Dinner
The first step to spending quality time with loved ones is to free yourself from all distractions, electronic or otherwise, so you can enjoy the undivided attention of those at the dinner table. Next time you get together for a family meal, ask everyone to sit down to eat without being connected to a single electronic device.
“Research shows that when a parent unplugs, it makes a positive statement about how they truly care about connecting with their family,” says Voisin.