Mealtime can easily become super stressful and a source of a lot of frustration. Believe me, I have two young kids, so I know how quickly things can go south. At my house, I’m basically a short order cook when it comes to mealtime (a habit I’m currently trying to break), but for now, this is what I’m dealing with.
My favorite meals are the times where we all sit together and eat as a family. Even if we’re not all eating the same thing! Just having a few minutes of time where we’re not doing anything other than being with each other is always a treat.
I know for a lot of people, dinnertime is usually about getting something on the table so you can make it to soccer practice on time (at least it was before the world stopped). Or trying to get everyone to eat something nutritious before diving into homework.
I have news for you – that’s never going to stop. Life is always going to be busy. You’ll never feel like there is enough time in the day. That’s how I feel, at least, but something that has helped me lately is changing the way I look at mealtime. It’s not something that you can avoid. Everyone needs to eat. So how can you make it more enjoyable?
Ways to make memories at mealtime
If you’re looking for ways to turn mealtime into a fun experience instead of a chore, I have some great ideas for you. Here are a few things you can do to switch up the dinner routine and create amazing memories with the people you love.
Prepare the meal together
Dinnertime at my house is my responsibility, but it’s always more fun when I get the girls involved. I try to give them age appropriate tasks they can handle, and they enjoy being a part of the process. It doesn’t mean they always eat what’s on their plate, but they do love to measure and stir.
Talk to each other
Most of the time our kids want to have the tv or some device on during dinner. Sometimes it’s nice to break that habit. You can take these few minutes each day to interact and connect with your family. Instead of the usual “how was your day?,” you could switch it up and ask “What was your favorite thing that happened today?” “What was the coolest thing that happened?” or “How did you help someone today?”
Recreate a meal you had on vacation
Remember your favorite meal you had when on vacation and do your best to recreate it at home. Were you at a beach resort? Maybe play some tropical music at dinner. Another idea would be to recreate a meal from the past. Did your partner make you a meal on your first date? Make it for your kids or friends and tell them the story.
Make it personalized
Individual portions of things always make them seem extra special. Think mini pot-pies, individual pizzas, or single serve portions of a dish you generally make.
Change the setting
If you always eat in the dining room, on a nice night, take the meal outside. Or on a rainy, dreary night, have everyone sit on the floor and watch a movie with dinner while you have an indoor picnic.
Create those memories!
It actually doesn’t take a whole lot of effort to create mealtime memories, you just have to get a little creative. Don’t worry about taking a ton of time to plan and making sure everything is perfect. What makes mealtime memorable is the people you share it with. Usually, people don’t remember many of the details, but the way they felt will stick out in your mind.
Try to switch up the dinner routine one night a week and see how it goes. I hope these suggestions will help you and your family create a lifetime of memorable meals together.
