Tips for Keeping Your Family at the Dining Table

From our provider:

Rated by 2 members

1 Comment

These days we rarely take time to sit down and enjoy a meal. Yet a healthy meal in beautiful surroundings with people we love makes our lives feel rich and abundant. Meals together are an opportunity to connect with your family, nurture your body and feed your senses.

Create a routine and ritual. Try to eat dinner at about the same time each night. Give everyone a reminder 15 minutes until we get ready for dinner. Unwind before sitting at the table. Let your kids help you cook, set the table, have a drink or something to nibble on. With really little kids, the ritual could be something a simple as washing hands. Wait for everyone to be seated to begin eating. Acknowledge the start of the meal with a blessing, grace, gratitude for the food, the cook or just a simple bon apptit.
Dim the lights and light candles. Little children (and adults) are mesmerized by fire. Even if you are eating early and it is not dark out yet - light candles. Make it a treat to blow out the candles when everyone is finished.
Serve food that everyone likes and make it colorful. In addition to taste, colors make a meal more interesting. For example, use bright green broccoli next to orange carrots.
Be realistic. A two year old may not sit for long at all. Even 5 minutes is an okay place to start. For older children you may go for one meal a day or 4 a week. Maybe breakfast is better time for a family meal than dinner.
Be a role model. If your young child sees you jump up to answer the phone or get up and down while eating - she will too. Make a commitment to turn off the ringers and let the answering machine pick up during dinner. For teenagers do not be too strict about this. Encourage them to make plans before dinner- but if they havent been able to touch base with their friends yet and are waiting for the nights plans - let them get the information and then come back to the table- otherwise they will just be anxious.
Have everything on the table. Particularly with little kids who may need assistance - that way you will not be jumping up and down and going to the kitchen every minute. You will actually have a chance to eat too. Have extra cloth for spills, cut their food in advance.
Reconsider what at the table means. Little ones - from 18 months to 3 years old - are much happier sitting at their little table. They feel more independent, in control and it just is more comfortable sitting in a place that fits your body. Pull the little table close to you table so you can see each other, talk and still feel like you are sharing a meal.
Eat family style. There is something nice about seeing all the food on the table and helping yourself. It also cuts down on having to get up and down and go into the kitchen. Often toddlers will eat if they can help themselves (from a limited selection) and fill their own plate.
Create a centerpiece. There is an expression in Feng Shui where your attention goes, energy flows. Keep the focus on the center of the table. In addition to candles, have a bowl or fresh fruit or fresh flowers. You could have seasonal objects or objects from nature. Even toddlers will appreciate a beautifully set table - float a single blossom on the little table. Young children will enjoy creating the centerpiece with stones found on a walk, flowers, or sand from the beach in a pretty container.
When the weather is nice, create an outdoor eating area. Kids usually love eating outside. Add potted trees, fruit trees or plants to create an outdoor feel and bring nature in during seasons when you need to say indoors.
Ideally dining rooms are located in a quiet part of the house. Otherwise dining tables just become dumping grounds. Find other places by organizing front hall closets, adding benches, baskets etc to house mail, coats etc. Keep the dining room table clear, or if it has another use during the day make sure to clear it after you finish the project, work etc.
It may also be that you can find a cozier place to share a family meal. With older children, sitting around the coffee table in the living room by the fireplace might be a good place to have a long dinner and meaningful conversation. Kitchens in many ways are the hearth of the home and a breakfast nook or (if you are a neat cook) even an island can be a great place for a long, warm, cozy meal.