Unique Book & Restaurant Event Highlights Need for Family Dinners

DEDHAM, MA. -- Many of today's busy parents are increasingly anxious about a long-time ritual that is seemingly slipping away - the family dinner. Their concern is well founded. Over twenty years of research shows that regular family meals lead to long-term benefits, including higher resilience, self-esteem, and grade-point-averages, and lower rates of substance abuse, teen pregnancy, eating disorders, and depression. Of course, for many over scheduled parents and children, rescuing the seemingly elusive family dinner tradition isn't easy.

But help is on the way for families who need a boost to get back into the routine of eating dinner together - and reap the many rewards that come with it. On Sunday, December 8, the Blue Bunny Bookstore and Horse Thieves Tavern in Dedham Square will be teaming up to host The Family Dinner Project with a special celebration of the organization's new book, Eat, Laugh, Talk: The Family Dinner Playbook, (Familius Press.)

The event begins at 4:30 p.m. at The Blue Bunny, which will feature a presentation about The Family Dinner Project (TFDP) and their new book. The talk and Q&A will be led by Anne Fishel, PhD., Executive Director and Co-Founder of TFDP and Director of Family and Couples Therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital, along with support from fellow team members Bri DeRosa, Cindil Redick-Ponte, and Shannon Frederick Meneses.

After the book signing, families will be encouraged to join The Family Dinner Project team next door at Horse Thieves Tavern, where guests will enjoy food, fun, and conversation from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Special, family-friendly entrees will be available for $10 at the tavern, along with table games and unique conversation starters for guests to enjoy during their meals. Free take-home resources will be provided so everyone can bring the fun and conversation home for more great family meals.

As serendipity would have it, Laurence Wintersteen and Chris Lutes, the co-owners of Horse Thieves Tavern, recently launched a family dinner series on Sundays. Wintersteen shares, “Horse Thieves Tavern has been offering our popular, budget-friendly, family dinner nights on Sundays designed to bring families together, so we were delighted to learn about The Family Dinner Project - and have a chance to help amplify their mission."

New York Times best-selling author/illustrator and owner of Blue Bunny Books Peter H. Reynolds has helped co-host the Horse Thieves' Sunday family nights. On one recent Sunday, Reynolds even enticed participating kids with prizes from his bookshop for eating their green beans -and even comping their meals. Reynolds notes, "With all today's distractions from technology, devices and busy schedules, I'm a huge fan of creative ways to get families to the table - including mine!"

Founded in 2010, The Family Dinner Project is a nonprofit initiative based at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Psychiatry Academy. The project champions family dinner as an opportunity for family members to connect with each other through food, fun and conversation about things that matter. With nonprofit partners and local champions, The Family Dinner Project team works online and at community events to help families increase the frequency, meaning and long-term benefits of their shared meals.

Author proceeds from book sales will go to the nonprofit community work of The Family Dinner Project. The Blue Bunny Bookstore is located at 577 High Street in Dedham Square, and Horse Thieves Tavern is next door at 585 High Street. For more information about the December 8 event or Eat, Laugh, Talk: The Family Dinner Playbook, visit thefamilydinnerproject.org or bluebunnybooks.com.