HI SCR199

Designates September 2019 as Family Meals Month in Hawaii to encourage families to share more meals at home each week.

Cites that only 30 percent of American families share dinner together every night, despite 92 percent of consumers wanting to eat healthier meals.

Notes that regular family meals are linked to higher grades, increased self-esteem, better resistance to negative peer pressure, and reduced symptoms of violence, depression, and substance abuse in children.

States Hawaii's childhood obesity rate increased from 11 percent in 2016 to 14 percent in 2017, and notes that children eating family meals three or more times weekly are more likely to maintain healthy weight and nutrition.

Encourages Hawaii residents to add an additional family meal each week during September 2019 and throughout the year, with copies sent to the Board of Education, Department of Education, Department of Health, and Governor.