[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 149 (Tuesday, September 17, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H7746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING NATIONAL FAMILY MEALS MONTH

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize September as National Family Meals Month.
  Between work, school, and extracurricular activities, it can be hard 
to find time to share a meal as a family, but the benefits that come 
from carving out time to eat together are rewarded tenfold.
  Family meals are great for the mind, body, and spirit. Regular meals 
provide children and their parents with great nutritional value, 
helping them to meet the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. 
It also expands the variety of food children will eat, making them less 
picky about what is on the table.
  For young, developing children, conversation heard at the dinner 
table involves vocabulary and reading comprehension. Adolescents also 
benefit, often being more likely to achieve higher grades in school.
  Meals bring families closer and provide a setting for parents and 
children to engage in meaningful dialogue that can reduce stress and 
negative behavior and improve communications skills.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage all families to prioritize time for family 
meals and strengthen their ties to one another.

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