Ohio State nav bar

Skip to main content

The Ohio State University

  • Help
  • BuckeyeLink
  • Map
  • Find People
  • Webmail
  • Search Ohio State
  • Home
  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars
  • Authors

Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Topics:

The Ohio State University
You are here: Home / Family and Relationships / Dining In on December Third

November 30, 2015

Dining In on December Third

Dine In

Ellen Swallow Richards was born on December 3, 1842 and is known for her leadership in the field of Family & Consumer Sciences and Family Life Education, including founding the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS), originally named American Home Economics Association. Although she was born in the 1800s, Ellen’s research, work and passion laid a foundation for many examples of healthy living situations that we enjoy today.

Ellen Swallow (Richards) graduated from Vassar College with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1870 and then became the first female student to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She became an instructor at MIT and is recognized as the most prominent female American chemist of the 19th century. She was committed to using science to improve living conditions for families especially on the topics of nutrition, clothing, physical activity and sanitation. Her research on water quality helped Massachusetts create the first state water quality standards in the United States and the first modern municipal sewage treatment plant. She was also a leader in establishing the nation’s first school lunch program in Boston in 1884.

December 3rd, the date of Ellen’s birthday was chosen by AAFCS to celebrate the second annual Family and Consumer Sciences Day. Family & Consumer Sciences Day calls attention to something simple families can do to be physically, mentally, and financially healthier—prepare and eat a nutritious meal together(PDF)Links to a PDF document.. Are you dining in?

Steps

  1. Complete the “I’m dining in”, simple sign-up. Add your name, location and who you are signing up for: family, class, community group or business.
  2. Check out interactive map to see who else is “Dining In” near you. I was happy to recognize two names in my county. One is a local writer and the other is a FCS teacher.
  3. Promote Family & Consumer Sciences Day and “Dining In” to your friends, family and colleagues. Share your favorite easy recipe! Our family will probably keep the menu simple with soup, salad and rolls.
  4. Prepare and eat a healthy meal with your family on December 3rd and share a photo on your social media sites. Use #FCSday and #healthyfamselfie on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Ellen Swallow Richards “campaign button”
Ellen Swallow Richards “campaign button” used on election day, Tuesday November 3, 2015 by a team presenting “Using Family Life Education (FLE) Methodology in Extension for Strong Family and Consumer Science Programming”

 

Remember, “Dine In” is designed to be simple! Make the meal easy and fun. Thank you Ellen Swallow Richards: You have reminded our modern families that science is valuable, history is fascinating and family wellness is meaningful.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, MA, CFLE, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County

REVIEWED BY: Carmen Irving, M.A., CFLE, CYC-P, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Union County

REFERENCES:

  • American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (http://www.aafcs.org/)
  • Chemical Heritage Foundation and History (http://www.chemheritage.org/discover/online-resources/chemistry-in-history/themes/public-and-environmental-health/public-health-and-safety/richards-e.aspx)
  • Do Family Meals Really Make a Difference? Cornell University, College of Human Ecology (http://www.human.cornell.edu/pam/outreach/upload/Family-Mealtimes-2.pdf)
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology History Library (http://libraries.mit.edu/mithistory/community/notable-persons/ellen-swallow-richards/)

Categories: Family and Relationships, Food
Tags: #FCSday, #healthyfamselfie, Dining In, Family meals

Avatar for Patrice Powers-Barker
Avatar for Patrice Powers-Barker

About Patrice Powers-Barker

Patrice Powers-Barker, CFLE (Certified Family Life Educator) implements Ruby Green Smiths’ description of Family and Consumer Sciences, “where science and art meet life and practices.” The Mind and Body topic lends well with empowering families to evaluate their daily habits and to make individual as well as family goals to enact mindfulness and abundance. The “science and art” of mindfulness can be practiced throughout different aspects of life - from work and play to eating or parenting and education. Patrice loves spending time with family, treasuring the four seasons of Northwest Ohio and appreciating the abundance of her local community.

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

Loving Kindness chart from self to world

Cultivating Loving-Kindness

Exploring the Heart of It All webinar series presented in Autumn 2024

pages of open book shaped into a heart

Making Every Day Sweet

I will serve 2024MLK

Unite, Serve, and Transform on MLK Day to Create the Beloved Community

Follow Us!

  • Facebook

Footer

Need Assistance?

If you are having issues logging into the site, need assistance with updates, or need to request an alternate format please send an email to the EHE Service Desk at servicedesk@ehe.osu.edu stating the nature of your issue and we will assist you. Thank you.
Are you a Live Smart Ohio Author? Log in here!

Categories

  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars

Follow us!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
The Ohio State University
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN ECOLOGY
COLLEGE OF FOOD, AGRICULTURAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

© 2025 Live Smart Ohio - Family and Consumer Sciences | The Ohio State University - College of Education and Human Ecology | Accessibility | Privacy Policy

%d