NEW YORK, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- With so much talk about busy lifestyles and so little time, you might think sit down family dinners are a thing of the past. Not quite so, according to consumer research. Nearly 80% of consumers prepare and eat their meals at home. It's easy to think that sitting down to dinner has been replaced with so called grazing, grab-and-go snacks or fast food -- but the traditional sit down family dinner is still a strong part of the American landscape. (See video at: http://media.medialink.com/WebNR.aspx?story=32606) Of those meals, almost half of them are traditional meals, built around a meat, starch and vegetable. Meal planners say putting together a good meal is more than an accident. In fact, they call it "building the meal." You start by preparing the center of the plate, the main course, and then adding vegetables and starches to complement it. If you're having broiled chicken or pork chops, you want a crispy potato dish that will complement the meat you've chosen. Experts suggest you try to pick flavors that won't compete with each other, but will bring the meal together. While veggies are the most popular side dish in a dinner, potatoes lead the way over pasta, rice and stuffing. Registered journalists can access video, audio, text, graphics and photos for free and unrestricted use at http://media.medialink.com/. DATASOURCE: Medialink and General Mills CONTACT: Medialink New York, +1-888-560-5578 or

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