Family Meals

How can busy families find the time to have meals together? 

• Focus on being together rather than creating an elaborate meal. The meal can be as simple as ordering pizza and salad or preparing spaghetti and a jar of spaghetti sauce.

• Start small - try to find time to have one or two meals a week together at first. Once these mealtimes are established routines, the family can expand the number of meals if possible.

• Choose a meal that will fit with everyone's schedule and that occurs at a time when children are calm and in a good mood. If evenings are the most difficult time of day for your family, try establishing breakfast, lunch, or brunch on the weekends as a regular family meal time.

• Have each family member be responsible for a task, for example, one person sets the table, one person cooks, one person prepares beverages, one person clears the table, etc. That way it is not too much work for one person and all family members will be more invested in the mealtime.

How can families increase positive interaction and feelings about family meals? 

• Eliminate distractions - turn off the TV and let the answering machine answer the phone during the meal time. If the family is used to watching TV every night during dinner, this change should be implemented gradually, or it will probably be met with resistance. Start with one TV-free meal per week, then increase the number of meals without TV.

• Try to limit discussion to positive or neutral topics. Save discussions of negative topics, such as poor grades, or problem behaviors, for another time. Children will be more positive about eating together as a family if they do not view meals as a time when they will be criticized.

• Create an environment that is conducive to a positive dining experience. Lighting candles, putting flowers on the table, or playing soft music can make the mood more special and positive.