The Dinner Belle, Chef Michelle Chen

    Wife and Mother to an active family of four, involved in multiple activities

    Associates of Applied Science Degree in Culinary Arts from the Arts Institutes International of Minnesota

    Bachelor of Science in Corporate and Community Fitness and Nutrition from North Dakota State University

Why I do what I do…..

I want this to be a tool to help bring families to the table and to foster communication! The time we have with our children is fleeting and it is imperative that we make the best use of this time together.

With today’s hectic lifestyles and streamlined food preparation, family mealtime often gets sidetracked.  Conflicting schedules, after-school activities, working parents and volunteer commitments are among the many reasons why family dinners are rushed, if they even happen.

Family mealtimes promote social connections.  The home dining table is our last remaining gathering place.  It’s a place for friends and family to nourish the relationships that are at the heart of homes, neighborhoods and communities.  When families linger over a meal – a practice more common in other cultures than the United States – family mealtime promotes close personal interaction.  Benefits go beyond catching up on the day, building family ties and enjoying each other.  Regular family mealtime also is linked to better emotional health, better school performance, and fewer risk-taking behaviors in our youth, such as alcohol and drug abuse.