I love the theory of a family meal. I hold tightly to a Norman Rockwell-esque gathering where everyone sits around a bountiful table sharing tales of their day, but that kind of scene doesn’t take place every day – at least not in my house.
When my boys were younger family dinners just happened, but as the years pass, it seems I’m losing a battle against coaches, tutors and music teachers. It’s hard enough getting my two boys where they need to be, let alone sit down together unless we’re all in the car. Take Tuesday nights: the Teen has soccer practice after school until 5:15 p.m., and my younger guy has soccer practice from 5:30 – 6:30. At 6:30 the Teen has to be at an enrichment class, 20 minutes east of where my younger guy has practice – thank goodness for carpools!
It feels disruptive, all this running around, but it’s an indication of our rich full, lives. Right?
Still, I want to see those most familiar faces. I want to hear stories from school. I want us to spend time together sharing a common experience. The benefits of family meals stretch far beyond the kitchen , from better school performance and good self-esteem, to better health.
That’s why we’re celebrating October as National Eat Better, Eat Together Month.
Here are some tips for playing along that I got from other bloggers:
Make eating together a priority. Blogger Rachel Tayse places a high importance on family meals at home. In fact, she invites friends to join in as often as three times a week. “I think it is so important to eat together that I would rather cook for seven and do all the dishes then throw together a meal after a park playdate,” she said.
But the logistics can be challenging, so planning ahead helps. I’ve been known to mix up a salad and grill a steak outside at 9 a.m. when I want to cook a meal from scratch, but the pre-dinner hours are consumed with carpools.
Mom of three, Melissa Haak practices meal planning and even posts her weekly menus on her blog. In addition, everyone helps out and her husband occasionally prepares the evening meal.
Prepare a quick meal but enjoy it slowly. If I’m in a rush, I might prepare Manwich Sloppy Joes with ground turkey and a can of beans mixed in (fiber!) and serve it with whole wheat buns and a pre-cut salad.
Set realistic expectations. If a family dinner just isn’t possible every night of the week, find a number that works for your family. Younger children might only be expected to sit at the table for 15 minutes. The meal shouldn’t feel like a time-out.
Banish the screens. Remember, the goal is for family members to be present mentally and physically.
Involve Everyone. Even a preschooler can help set a table or assist with meal (or dessert) planning. Nicole Brady says that watching cooking shows like “Top Chef” with her 7 and 8-year-old daughters has inspired them to help prepare family meals. Bonus: picky eaters tend to get a bit more adventurous when they help cook.
Whether alone or with the kids, you can find great recipes from ConAgra Foods right here on The Dish or ReadySetEat.
What are the biggest roadblocks to family meals in your house and how do you work around them?
