(Family Features) Spending moments together with loved ones carries obvious benefits like time to catch up and opportunities to bond, but sharing meals actually provides definitive value for families. With restricted social interactions and confinement at home due to COVID-19, many families are facing meal challenges that have shifted from juggling busy schedules to seeking new ways to mix up the traditional menu or using digital solutions to reconnect at a virtual table.
A study published in the “Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior” funded by the FMI Foundation shows that more frequent family meals are associated with better dietary and family functioning outcomes. The results build on years of previous research studies to punctuate the creation of the Family Meals Movement, which encourages Americans to pledge to share one more family breakfast, lunch or dinner at home per week.
Find tips, recipes and ways to increase your family meal frequency despite COVID-19 circumstances at familymealsmovement.org.
Hawaiian Chicken Pizza
Recipe courtesy of Toby Amidor on behalf of the FMI Foundation
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Nonstick cooking spray
1 1/2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
1 ready-made pizza crust or whole wheat pizza crust (10 ounces)
1 cup canned or jarred tomato sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese or part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 cup finely chopped fresh pineapple or canned pineapple tidbits packed in 100% juice
Preheat oven to 375 F. Coat pizza pan or baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
In medium bowl, combine rotisserie chicken and barbecue sauce.
Place pizza crust on pan and evenly spread tomato sauce over crust. Sprinkle evenly with cheese. Top evenly with rotisserie chicken mixture and pineapple.
Bake until crust is crisp and browned around edges, about 10 minutes. Let pizza cool 10 minutes before cutting into eight slices.
Source: FMI Foundation
