Cozi and PHA Join Families Nationwide to Celebrate America Makes Dinner Day, Wednesday, October 17

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today's families don't aspire to be like the Cleavers or the Brady Bunch, but most American parents want more sit-down dinners with their kids. In reality, the average American family misses about 100-150 dinners together every year, according to a new survey from Cozi, the leading developer of mobile apps and Web tools that simplify everyday family life. That's why Cozi and the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), an organization focused on making the healthy choice the easy choice, are encouraging families across the country to take a night and sit down to dinner together this Wednesday, October 17 for America Makes Dinner Day.

“But sitting down to enjoy dinner as a family is difficult in today’s hectic world.”

Cozi’s American Dinner Survey, which polled nearly 1,000 parents, found that busy schedules are the biggest obstacle to having dinner together:

52% of families miss dinner together at least two or three days each week—a total of 104-156 missed dinners annually.
One-half (50%) said demanding work schedules or kids’ extracurricular activities are most likely to keep them from having dinner as a family.
More than half (59%) of families watch television during some or all of their dinners together.
Nearly one-third (32%) said technology or cell phones are used at least sometimes at the dinner table.
Almost one in four parents (24%) said someone in the family complains about the dinner meal at least half the time.

“Research links frequent family meals to a lower risk of smoking, drinking and drug use, and a Columbia University study even found that kids who eat dinner most often with their parents are 40% more likely to get mainly As and Bs in school,” said Cozi CEO Robbie Cape. “But sitting down to enjoy dinner as a family is difficult in today’s hectic world.”

Families all over the country have signed up to participate in America Makes Dinner Day, and this Wednesday, October 17, they will enjoy a recipe from the America Makes Dinner recipe challenge, including the top-rated recipes from actress Peyton List and bloggers Kristy Bernardo and Lisa Leake. All of the America Makes Dinner recipes follow MyPlate guidelines for healthy eating.

“We know that families who sit down to eat dinner together regularly inevitably eat healthier,” said Lawrence A. Soler, PHA CEO. “One reason we work with the private sector to make the healthy choice the easy choice for busy families is to help them maximize those few moments between the work day, homework, chores and everything else, when everyone can come together. Making healthier choices isn't always about food and our physical health—sometimes it's about time and keeping connected.”

To celebrate America Makes Dinner Day, Cozi is giving away a new iPad with the Pin Your Dinner contest. Contestants can enter to win by creating a board on Pinterest that shows what dinner is like in their homes.

For more information about America Makes Dinner Day, including the top recipes and more details on the Pin Your Dinner contest, visit www.americamakesdinner.com.

Cozi’s American Dinner Survey methodology: In September 2012, Cozi posted an online survey, with 964 families with children living at home opting to participate.

About Cozi

Cozi is the leading provider of apps and sites that simplify everyday life for families. With nearly 8 million users, Cozi's signature product, Cozi Family Organizer, manages the family calendar by keeping track of everything from school schedules to activities, grocery lists, to do lists and meals, and works across iOS, Android and the Web. The Cozi lineup of mobile apps helps families stay connected, organized and engaged, and includes Cozi Family Locator, Cozi Kids Coloring+, Cozi Sitter Finder, and Cozi Password Vault. Located in Seattle, Wash., Cozi was founded by veterans of Microsoft and Amazon with a vision for creating technology that brings families together.

About the Partnership for a Healthier America

PHA is devoted to working with the private sector to ensure the health of our nation’s youth by solving the childhood obesity crisis. PHA is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that brings together public, private and nonprofit leaders to broker meaningful commitments and develop strategies to end childhood obesity. For more information, please visit www.aHealthierAmerica.org and follow PHA on Twitter @PHAnews.