EAT TOGETHER
It's that simple (and difficult). Eat meals together regularly as a family and those are just
some of the many benefits that multiple research studies have found will be yours.
September 27th just happens to be National Family Day; a day set aside to remember and practice the importance of eating together (see left sidebar).
I was very lucky to grow up in family where dinners together were the rule. I can hardly remember a time when that didn't happen. I wanted to continue that important tradition when I started my own family. It was easier when they were younger and we didn't run in so many different directions. Now it takes much more effort and planning.
We probably all have room for improvement in this area somewhere. Do you eat dinner together 4 times a week? Could you increase it to 5? Do you eat dinner together every night? Good! How about including a few breakfast meals together? Do you eat together regularly, but it's harried and stressful and you're eating expensive take home food? Maybe, you get to 5pm and realize you have NO idea what to make for dinner, and everyone's hungry.... so it's PBJ again, but no one's happy (including you). As a mother who has a lot of room for improvement in this area, I'd like to remind myself and all of you of some simple ways to do this that won't feel overwhelming or impossible.
1. Set a schedule
Look at your family's schedule. Find those days and times that are easiest to make a commitment to eat together. Examine the not-so-easy days and ponder on how you can still make it work (tips coming soon) and set a time, even if each night it's a different time. How about weekend breakfast together?
2. Meal planning
The only antidote for "it's 5pm and I have NO idea what to make" is planning. Some of us enjoy planning and umm.... some of you don't. There are lots of meal planning systems out there, but it all boils down to this; know what you'll be having for dinner in advance, and it all becomes SO much easier. I prefer planning 2-4 weeks of meals at once. (I'll have a separate page on this soon.)
3. Make it fun and include the kids
Pick one night a week when you have the least outside distractions, and make this your FUN night. Let the kids help plan the menu (in advance of course), and include them in the cooking (it will take a little longer and be a little messier, but you're teaching them to be self-sufficient some day).
4. Create a lovely environment
Ideally, I would have music playing each night, put out the best dishes, and make the table truly lovely. In reality, that just doesn't happen. But you can choose one night a week (we usually do Sundays), to put out better dishes, light some candles, and make it a little nicer (it doesn't have to be your best china, just forgo the paper). This also gives a great opportunity to practice table manners! It's rarely a good idea to have the TV on while eating, but some good music in the background is great!
5. Enjoy each other!
Take the time to reconnect after a long day. I can say honesty, that even though I may be home with my kids all day, I can still miss a lot of the finer points of the day. Depending on the age of your children, think of a few questions (or better yet, ask Dad to handle this) to discuss over dinner. This can range from how their day went, to current events, to their biggest dreams, or their silliest memories. Stay in touch with what's important and meaningful to them, and share your feelings also. The family that eats together, stays together.
I'd love to hear from you! Do you have a system down to make meals together happen? Please share... I'm always up for a good tip. Is this a challenge for you and you're not sure what to do? Please leave a comment and maybe we can come up with a solution together.
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