Tops commits to helping families eat at home more often during National Family Meals Month

Proven health and societal benefits of family meals inspire monthlong event aimed at helping families get back to the table

Tops Friendly Markets Press Release

With an aim to inspire families to eat at home together more often, Tops Markets is celebrating National Family Meals Month in September, encouraging customers to share one more meal together each per week at home – and highlighting simple, healthy meal solutions in nearly every aisle, every day.

Numerous studies underscore the long-term health, academic and societal benefits of consistently eating together as a family; yet, according to a 2013 Harris poll, only 30% of American families share dinner every night. In addition, recent research proves that people who frequently cook at home eat fewer, healthier calories.

“September is the perfect month to spotlight the long-term benefits of family meals, and start a conversation that encourages and inspires people to return to the kitchen,” said Kathy Sautter, director of corporate communications and public relations for Tops. “Juggling the demands of modern life – school, sports, jobs and long commutes – can sabotage the best laid plans for home-cooked meals. We want to help our shoppers make wholesome meals together, at home, a modern family tradition.”

“Interest in creating more opportunities for families to eat meals together is at a critical point in our society,” said Leslie Sarasin, president and CEO of FMI, the Food Industry Association, creator of National Family Meals Month. “The will to return to the table exists, but families need a friendly, familiar voice to encourage, guide and help them. That voice comes from their neighborhood grocer.”

Recognizing mealtime struggles are real and shared by families of all shapes and sizes, Tops and food manufacturers are offering more solutions than ever before, giving shoppers the tools they need to make one more family meal at home per week.

‘Raise Your Mitt’ to commit to one more meal at home per week

Tops is encouraging the community to join the National Family Meals Month movement by pledging to one more meal at home per week. Make it official, and shareable, by posting a selfie wearing your favorite oven mitt and sharing your favorite recipe for a chance to have it featured on our website with the hashtag #familymealsmonth. Follow Tops on Facebook and Instagram to join the conversation this September.

The FMI Foundation created National Family Meals Month as a nationwide, annual event to highlight the mealtime solutions offered by grocers, and to encourage families to share one more meal at home per week.

Headquartered in Williamsville, Tops Markets operates 152 grocery stores across New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, including one franchise location in Lewiston. Learn more at www.topsmarkets.com.