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Get ready to celebrate National TV Dinner Day on September 10! This day is all about taking a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and indulging in some delicious frozen food. The history of this holiday goes back to 1954, when Swanson created the first ever TV dinner - which consisted of turkey, cornbread dressing, gravy, peas and sweet potatoes. Since then it has become an enduring American classic that continues to bring people together for tasty meals even today!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1953</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>TV Dinner Inception</div><div class='timeline-text'>Swanson revolutionized the way America eats dinner with its invention of the TV Dinner concept, intending to make meals quick and convenient.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1954</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First TV Dinner Release</div><div class='timeline-text'>Swanson released the first TV dinner, a Thanksgiving themed meal consisting of turkey, cornbread dressing, gravy, peas and sweet potatoes.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1960</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>TV Dinners Gain Popularity</div><div class='timeline-text'>Throughout the 1960s, TV dinners gained popularity with American households for their convenience, with many different brands hitting the market.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1986</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div the='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Introduction of Microwaveable Trays</div><div class='timeline-text'>TV dinner manufacturers began shifting from foil trays to microwave-friendly materials as microwave ovens became more common in homes.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2000s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Health Conscious TV Dinners</div><div class='timeline-text'>In response to growing health concerns, companies began offering healthier and organic options in their TV dinner lines.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Make your own TV dinner</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather your favorite frozen meals or make your own. Create an individual TV dinner for each person to enjoy.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Have a movie night</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Choose a classic movie from the past and enjoy it with a homemade or store bought TV dinner.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Invite friends over</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Invite some friends over, make some TV dinners, and have a blast watching your favorite shows together.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Go to the drive in</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Pack up the car and head to the local drive in for a double feature and some snacks.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Try out a new recipe</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Make something you've never tried before. Look up recipes online or in cookbooks, or just experiment with different ingredients and see what you can create.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>TV Dinners are Quick & Convenient</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>TV dinners are a great way to get dinner on the table in a flash. They're perfect for busy weeknights when you don't have time to cook, and they come in a wide variety of flavors so there's something for everyone. Plus, they often require little to no preparation - just pop them in the oven or microwave and you'll have dinner ready in no time!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>TV dinners save time</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Rather than spending hours in the kitchen prepping and cooking a meal from scratch, TV dinners allow you to just heat up a complete meal in minutes. And since most of them come with built-in microwavable trays, clean up is a breeze too!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>TV Dinners provide good nutrition</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Contrary to popular belief, not all TV dinners are unhealthy - many contain whole grains, lean proteins, and plenty of vegetables. That means you can still enjoy your favorite meals without sacrificing nutrition. So if you need an easy dinner solution that won't break the bank or your diet plan, try opting for TV dinners once in awhile!</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Sales of First TV Dinner Surpassed Expectations</h3><p class='facts-text'>The first TV dinner, produced in 1954 by Swanson, was so successful that it sold over 10 million units in the first year alone, greatly surpassing the company's expectations.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Original TV Dinners were packed in aluminum trays</h3><p class='facts-text'>The original TV dinners were sold in aluminum trays and were heated in an oven, as microwaves were not yet common household appliances.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>TV Dinners reflect changing nutritional trends and demands</h3><p class='facts-text'>TV Dinners have evolved with time to meet the changing nutritional trends and consumer demands, and now offer options that are low sodium, gluten-free, and even vegan.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>TV Dinners have played a role in space missions</h3><p class='facts-text'>In 1970s, certain freeze-dried meals used by astronauts during space missions were similar to TV dinners, reflecting how this concept has influenced meal planning even in outer space!</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>There's a TV Dinner Museum exhibit</h3><p class='facts-text'>Recognizing the impact of TV dinners on American culture, The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has an exhibit dedicated to TV dinners, including one of the original trays produced by Swanson.</p></div></div>
National TV Dinner Day is celebrated on September 10 every year. In 2024 National TV Dinner Day will occur on a Tuesday.
2023
Sep 10
Sunday
2024
Sep 10
Tuesday
2025
Sep 10
Wednesday
2026
Sep 10
Thursday
2027
Sep 10
Friday
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