Family Resiliency Center | Illinois

Mealtime Minutes is an initiative that aims to provide real solutions to common family mealtime challenges. The information and tools developed will help family create effective strategies to address these challenges and create quality shared time together.

The Mealtime Minutes Initiative is funded by The Pampered Chef®since 2000, The Pampered Chef® has supported the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  In 2006, Doris Kelley Christopher Hall opened at the University of Illinois to house the Family Resiliency Center. 

Mealtime Minutes Public Service Announcements

Picky Eating
Picky eating behaviors have been identified as a major barrier to having shared family mealtimes. Parents serve as important role models in helping children develop healthy eating habits, which is especially important as food preferences are formed early and remain stable throughout childhood.
View the PSA here
Mealtime Minutes : Picky Eating (PDF)

Work/Life Stress
Managing work-life stress has become an increasing challenge for parents. All too often, stress from the work day spills over into family time and this can adversely impact the physical and emotional health of family members. Parents report that not being able to balance work/life stress is a major barrier to shared family mealtimes.
View the PSA here
Mealtime Minutes : Work/Life Stress (PDF)

Sibling Conflict
While it is expected that siblings have some sort of disagreement up to 4 times an hour, families frequently identify this as a real barrier to family mealtimes. The solutions provided draw from the research work of Dr. Laurie Kramer’s More Fun with Sisters and Brothers Program.
View the PSA here

Managing Strong Emotions
Cranky children at the table rarely begins the moment the child(ren) sits down. Parents can start to recognize how they can change the patterns that set the stage for these unwanted behaviors.
View the PSA here