Thursday, September 9, 2010
5 Strategies for getting dinner on the table in time to enjoy it.
1. Set a dinner hour. Ours is 6:30. We want to be sitting at the table to eat at 6:30 this ensures that we have time to do homework unrushed and be able to relax through dinner without worrying that we will have to rush through bath time. With 4 kids in the house that alone can take up to an hour.
2. Meal plan with gusto. This is a step that will ensure that you won't be left staring into the fridge wondering what's for dinner. Make a list of options for the week. I do 5 dinners a week but don't set them for any specific night of the week. I also make sure that I have easy dinners on hand for hard days like whole wheat pizza crusts, sammie makings and an old favorite breakfast for dinner.
3. Set the table. This step makes dinner official. It's much easier to carry an already made plate into the living room and set in front of the tv. Where as we set out plates, silverware, water & glasses and napkins for everyone. Dinner is served family style at the table. No one is allowed to start eating until everyone's plates are filled.
4. Get you kids into the kitchen. This step allows for kids to take ownership in what's for dinner. Even my 3 year old helps stirring salads and setting the table. I am starting to allow the boys to fix salads, set table and they even washed dishes a couple of nights last week. It's everyone's responsibility to make sure that our family eats together.
5. Break that ice. Even the closest families are sometimes stuck for what to talk about at the dinner table. I have noticed over the last few months that we are falling into a bit of a runt in the conversation arena. We ask them what they did in class, who they played with on the playground and what they thought of their lunch. But it's the same old conversations every night. I just recently bought this:
Makes dinner time pleasurable and fun
Promotes family unity
Encourages healthy eating
Short and easy to play
No game board or pieces required
Promotes family unity
Encourages healthy eating
Short and easy to play
No game board or pieces required
This is a set of game cards with simple games and activities that encourage family fun and even encourage your kids to eat their veggies and drink their milk. I am hoping this will bring some fun to our table.
What strategies do you use to get dinner and your family to the table?
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Those are great ideas! Thanks! I love the dinner games, that would make it really interesting!
ReplyDeleteYou are so smart with these ideas. I used to set the table all the time but stopped. Of course, I'd be setting it just for me now so that's dumb, but planning the meals and talking to myself would work! :)
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