Family Dinnertime Tips



Grill Prep, quick & easy edibles, and the secrets to tastier seafood.

MAKE MEALS AS MUCH ABOUT FAMILY TOGETHERNESS AS THEY ARE ABOUT FOOD

Schedule dinner as you would an appointment, so it’s not rushed or crazy. You schedule most other things in your life—why not meals?

Aim to have dinner together at least 3 times a week. If everyone is on a different schedule, try to have dessert together

Turn off the TV, radio, cell phones and pagers to eliminate distractions and foster family discussion

MAKE DINNER MORE INTERESTING

Turn an everyday meal into a special occasion. Use nice dishes and a tablecloth, and give your “holiday” a name, such as “Great Report Card Day” or “The Merry Unbirthday Party”

If the weather’s fine, eat outdoors! If you don’t have an outdoor dining area, simply spread a blanket on the lawn for an impromptu picnic

Plan an ethnic food night, complete with dishes you and your family have never eaten before

Serve a big breakfast at dinnertime, including eggs, toast and sausage, plus pancakes or waffles for dessert

IF YOU HAVE KIDS...

Involve them in the cooking process. It’s not only fun, you’re also teaching an important life skill. Plus, when children help cook, they learn to appreciate the time it takes to prepare meals

Ask very young children to help set the table

Encourage healthy eating habits and polite manners by awarding points, coupons or fake money. These awards that can be redeemed for a visit to the toy store, or some other reward

Go around the table and have everyone share at least one of the following:

One good thing that happened during the day

One thing to be thankful for

One nice thing he/she did for someone else

One thing he/she learned during the day

One thing he/she is looking forward to tomorrow