| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 8:34:05 AM | I was wondering how many families eat dinner at the dinner table every night?
I was shocked when I talked to others about this. It seems that most families sit in front of the TV for dinner instead of at the dinner table.
We always eat dinner at the table. Even when I wasn't married and it was just me and my children, we still always ate at the table together.
Is this really as rare as it seems? | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 8:43:58 AM | I have to admit that my kids and I never eat at the dinner table. I know it's a very bad habit and I remember as a kid eating at the dinner table and talking about our day. This thread makes me think that I really should start using that kitchen table!!!
But you're right! Most people I know eat dinner in the livingroom watching tv nowadays, and some kids I know take their dinner into their room and eat while playing their video games . Now that's too much | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 8:54:15 AM | Dinner is usually too rushed to have a sit down meal. There are too many things going on in the evenings. Visitations with their dad, sports, scouts, my work schedule, etc. We do maybe 2 times a week, usually on the weekends. Otherwise, I make up plates and put them on the table, and everyone makes it there within about a 30 minute window but often one person is finishing when another sits down. Lunch is our table meal. It's also very often the larger, nicer meal of the day. Sandwiches for dinner are as common as pot roast or other "dinner" foods for lunch. Everyone has breakfast at different times usually, too. We homeschool though, and mid-day there are never any activities, the other homeschool kids from the neighborhood are either still doing school or have to return home for their own lunches. We make lunch together, sit down together and talk and have a nice leisurely meal every weekday. On the weekends we often do a nice breakfast and/or dinner each day too, but sometimes do lunch out or in the car if there's a lot going on.
So, the short version is that we rarely do a table dinner, but we do have a sit down table meal every day. We just do it when it suits us. ;) | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 9:15:52 AM | We eat at the table as a family every evening. TV gets turned off if they stop paying attention to whats on their plates. I'd like to get into the habit of no-one leaves the table until everyone is done, or when they may be excused.
I have a fairly strict no food in the living room rule( gets broken quite often) But its only once in a while that anyone is allowed to eat dinner away from the table. | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 9:26:18 AM | | We used to eat at the dinner table when my kids were young ... and growing up we had 'supper' together every night and Sunday Dinner in the dining room after church, often with guests. It's a good thing to do. I just started eating with the t.v. off, by myself most of the time since 1 daughter lives on her own and the other is at her Dad's or boyfriends most of the time. I watched a program on TLC [ I Can Make You Thin by Paul McKenna] who says to do this ... I also learned to be 'mindful' in my yoga class, pay attention to what you are eating to bring a higher awareness to the experience.... so you won't over eat...etc. | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 9:42:45 AM | | I eat with my daughter at the table every meal, and I cook every meal with natural foods. Fast food is limited to once a month bu the last one I can remember was sometime last year! Even before splitting up we almost always ate at the table. | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 10:18:27 AM | | We have a bad habit of eating in front of the tv but that is because the kitchen table serves as our school desk and often has projects etc all over it. I bought a couple folding craft tables from Canadian Tire this week, so plan on using those for school tables to get my kitchen table back for it's intended purpose. | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 10:22:29 AM | | We don't eat at the dinner table much, because my table is too small for all of us. We do however make up for it in other ways....I always talk to the kids one at a time before dinner, about how their day was, etc. | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 10:51:08 AM | | When my kids are home, we have always had a sit down dinner at the table. When it's just my SO and me, we sometimes sit on the couch and watch TV depending what's on. Now, when my oldest is home from college she often comments how much she misses dinner with the family, so I'm glad that is a fond memory for her. I do know alot of people who never seem to sit down for dinner. It's mind boggling. I know of at least one friend who probably hasn't seen her table top in years! It's covered with JUNK! | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 11:13:43 AM | My 2 kids and i eat at the dinner table every night with the exception of fridays as that is movie night. We have pizza ( usually take out), but i would like to start making our own heealthy version for movie night. As for the tv .... we don't watch it except for movie night, so that is not an issue.
I think it is important for families to try and eat at least one meal together in the day wether it be breakfast lunch or dinner. Lunch is done at school so that is a no go, and mornings are crazy at my house so rarely do we all sit down together then. | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 11:21:28 AM | We do - at least 4 nights a week.
We also have "family night" - where we are all home, no excuses, we sit and eat dinner together, plan the menu for the following week, talk and play board games (monopoly, scrabble, connect 4, operation, checkers, chess, etc).
My 5 year old is getting pretty damn good at checkers! Now he wants to learn chess - I taught my older son chess at about that age, but my younger doesn't have the patience for it yet.
Anyway, off on a tangent there, but to answer your question, yes, we do try to sit down and eat dinner at the table together as much as possible. My 15 yr old isn't always there - he "has a life" (and more importantly, a girlfriend)  , but he knows he MUST be there for "Family Night". | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 11:26:31 AM | | Now that my children are adults and on their own, we don't have meals together as often as we used to. We always ate together, not necessarily at the table, but always with good conversation and a nice family bond. When they do come home and eat with me, we almost always have our meals at the table, still with good conversation and bonding :) | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 12:12:15 PM | | It's only my small 7 yr old son and I, but I do the table thing. Sometimes with tv on and most times with the tv off. I don't do the whole balanced meal thing like mom used to do, and some nights its just peanut butter- but, I think the time together is very important. I required dinner at the table when I was married as well. | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 12:31:04 PM | | My kids eat at the dinner table every night. Grace is said. We, too are busy. I work full time, go to school part time, both kids in soccer, one kid in music and one in scouts. Even if its late at night we sit down, no TV or electronics of any sort and eat together. If we have to grab something quick we still sit down later for milk and talk time. | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 2:20:58 PM | Im learning how rare it actually is.
My daughter and I do eat at the table together, but, it is not every night, but, most nights. This is the time I use to find out about her day, how she is doing in school, and whats on her mind. In fact, I am lucky I had this instilled in me while growing up. To this day, whenever we go to my parents house for dinner, we sit down together as a family. My parents are the traditional June Cleaver type, and I LOVE it! | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 2:51:14 PM | Nope - we eat at the table 6 days out of 7. The exception is when we are visting relatives, then the kids eat at table, adults have their food on laps simply cos of space restrictions.
With a pre-school child I feel strongly that you have to start them off right re table manners, as so many in my neck of the woods expect the school to do it all and I think it puts extra stress on 4 year olds having to learn basic stuff from strangers. Kids in the UK start school at 4, so the more independence they have about using a knife and fork, dressing themselves after PE etc the easier you are making it for them.
It's fantastic to know your kid is not gonna totally disgrace you at events like weddings etc or in restaurants too, makes formal occasions much more relaxed.
I'd love it if I could get my son to stage of asking permission to leave the table and clearing away his own dishes like we did as kids, but it's hard when none of his friends do that sort of stuff anymore. | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 4:51:07 PM | | Not every night, my daughter has ballet 3 nights a week and the kid saw their Dad the other two so I'd have to say every chance we get, weekends mostly. | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 5:01:41 PM | | I eat at the dinner table all the time with the children. I think it's a nice time to unwind and chat about what's happened during the day. I think TV is on enough, so it doesn't need to be on whilst eating aswell, as otherwise you are not concentrating on/ enjoying the food in front of you. | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 6:54:47 PM | | My old place...we ate at the dinner table everday, for every meal. This place we don't..but only becaue I'm afraid the dining room table is going to collaspe on us. I rented a furnished place for the winter)When we move in June and get back to using my furniture, then we will eat every meal, with the TV off, at the table. As it should be. It's amazing how much you learn about each other in that half hour of just sitting there talking about whatever is on your mind. I hate that we lost that and can't wait to get back to it. | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 7:30:11 PM | | I come home from work and cook the dinner. Unless one of my children are out at the time I make it a point that we all sit down and I ask each of them how their day was. I have found out b talking to some parents that this is rare these days. | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 8:13:29 PM | i don't have a dining room set - too expensive. seriously, i can't afford it right now. i got my 2 1/2 yr old son a 20 dollar "cars" table set for him, and i sit on the floor beside him. 
i guess that counts, so yes. we have dinner together every night. | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 9:47:09 PM | | My son and I eat together every night at the table,, never in the living room, We can see the TV though, he likes wheel of fortune,, help in his spelling,, I think.. I did here him say he liked Vanna a couple of times,, | |
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| Eating at the Dinner Table, is it rare?
Posted: 3/21/2008 10:07:00 PM | | Hi, i cant remember the last time i didnt eat at the table. I have "motto" in my house. Eat at the table or dont eat at all. With 2 young kids, i have more then enuf cleaning up to do. | |
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