Bertozzi

Film espousing family meals to feature campus instructor

By: Alyssa Skiba

Posted: 4/8/09

Creating and eating dinner together is a task that has fallen down a few steps on the priority lists of most Americans. Sometimes it is a choice but many times, busy and demanding schedules do not allow families any time to get together during the day.

Concern for the lack of families coming together for dinner has prompted Brown Finch Films, a filmmaking collaborative based in Chicago, to create a feature documentary film examining the importance of dinner in today's society.

UW-Whitewater assistant professor of Communication Elena Bertozzi was interviewed for the documentary.

An Italian-American, Bertozzi has realized the importance of not only nutrition and taking care of our bodies, but doing so through sharing dinner with family.

"It is startling and disturbing that people no longer cook and eat meals together," Bertozzi said.

The film also documents other factors dealing with food including appetite, diets, physical body and American society's relationship with food.

Bertozzi described appetite as "your hunger for life" and felt that diets and eating disorders are a person's desire to control their appetite. "Many Americans see hunger as an enemy," she said.

Although not all people make mealtime with their family a top priority, some college students miss the opportunity to gather and talk with their families.

"It's a good time to get something off your chest," freshman Samantha Otte said of her family dinners growing up. "Get in a heated argument while eating mashed potatoes."

Some students even realize how divided society has become over making and eating dinner together.

"Everyone is so connected to technology," sophomore Jamie Palama said. "People should have a set time for dinner every night."

Although college has drifted apart many family dinners, it is still important for some students to have dinner with their family.

"Time plays a role because of breaks," Otte said. "There is not enough time because college changes your lifestyle."

So take out the pots and pans, spoons and forks, and share a conversation and a meal with your family.