[:en] Newsletter September

One parent we know recently summed up her feelings about September: “It’s like I can feel the calendar closing in on me and all the activities and craziness just flooding back in.” Now that kids are back to school (or nearly), sign-up sheets are coming home and calendars are filling quickly. If the parents feel rushed and crazed by September, how are the kids feeling?

It’s easy to let that rushed feeling carry over to the dinner table, where — if you’re able to get there at all — you might find yourself prompting family members to hurry up, filling the conversation with reminders and logistics, receiving grumpy attitudes from the family and losing your patience. But a tense, hurried family dinner isn’t much good for anyone. Here’s how to slow down, focus on your time together and make the dinner table a place of calm for everyone.

Whether you choose to eat at a table, around the kitchen island or gathered on the living room sofas, mark the shift between everyday life and dinnertime by making the space especially welcoming. You don’t have to go crazy with fancy china, but clear the homework clutter, turn on some music and make sure there’s a comfortable spot for everyone.

Get more dinnertime mood inspiration:
Four Steps to a More Mindful Mealtime »
Nature’s Centerpiece »
Make a Family Dinner Playlist »
The Where of Family Dinners »

Battling over the food — who’s eating what, who’s not, how many bites need to be eaten and who’s getting dessert — is one of the fastest ways to invite tension to the dinner table, and it can also be responsible for worsening, not improving, picky eating habits. Try this: Every night, make sure to serve at least one well-liked item, so no one goes hungry (and try to ignore what they’re NOT eating). That basket of bread or platter of fruit might be the easiest sanity-saver you’ve ever encountered!

Find more support for picky eaters:
School Chef Offers Good Advice for Picky Eaters »
Helping Selective Eaters Try New Foods »
That’s Disgusting! Encouraging Picky Eaters »
Don’t Yuck On My Yum »

…Or chores, reminders and anything else that could turn into “nagging.” Steer table topics towards things family members feel proud of, are looking forward to or want to share.

Try these Back-to-School questions to get your family talking, and use these tips to deepen — not derail — your family conversations!

Laughter is one of the quickest, best ways to relax. Don’t be afraid to bring some silliness to dinner with you — joke contests, funny faces, tongue twisters or Pig Latin might not pass the “manners test” at your Grandma’s Sunday table, but you can make them welcome at your mealtimes!

Look for more laughter-inducing ideas:
Try our creative way to make Whipped Cream! »
Cat and Cow »
Would You Rather? »
Joke Jar »

Meet the Nogueira family from Ontario, Canada! They’re learning to slow down and savor the moment at their family dinners.

Real Family Dinner Projects: The Nogueira Family »

Food

10-year-old Neala rated these burgers as one of the family dinners that makes her smile after a long day at school!

Inside-Out Burgers »

Fun

Try something completely different with an Upside-down and Backwards Night!

Upside-Down and Backwards »

Conversation

September 25 is CASA Family Day. Try keeping tabs on your family’s stress levels — and your own — with these calming conversation starters from our friends at Family Day!

Conversation

[:es] newsletter-august

During the summer, many families change their dinnertime habits — meals might become more casual, the schedule might be looser and the rules and expectations that govern school year dinners might relax a little bit. But as you plan for the back-to-school season, you’re probably mindful that family dinner needs to find its place among all the other items crowding the calendar. Here’s how to start — or resume — a school year family dinner routine that works for everyone.

Why is it important to keep family dinner on your to-do list? Maybe it’s the research that shows there are many social, emotional and physical benefits to having dinner together. Maybe it’s that your family doesn’t have many chances to gather beyond dinnertime. Maybe it’s a chance for you to work on healthier eating habits together, or something else totally unique to your family. Whatever it is, try to keep your reasons for family dinner in focus, and make sure to share them with everyone in your household so you all understand why dinnertime is a priority.

Want more reasons to love dinnertime? Learn more about the benefits of family dinner. »

Every family will have somewhat different rules surrounding dinner, and that’s okay! Your mealtime doesn’t have to look like your neighbor’s. Especially with older children and teens, having a family discussion about what the expectations will be can make mealtimes more pleasant and positive.
Big picture areas to discuss include:

Where will we eat? Is it okay to eat in front of the TV, or not? If so, how often? If not, why not?
How will we manage technology at the table? Are phones and tablets allowed? If so, what level of use is okay? If not, why not?
Are there conversational rules we want to follow as a family, such as no interrupting, staying positive, or taking turns choosing topics?
How should family members react when there’s a food they don’t enjoy? Is there an alternative available, or not?
What jobs can each family member do to help make mealtimes happen?

Need some guidance on technology at the table? Check out our resources, presented in partnership with Common Sense Media’s #DeviceFreeDinner campaign. »

It may not be every night and it may not even be dinner — remember to think of alternatives like family breakfasts, late-evening snacks, walking desserts and weekend lunches to gather everyone for food, fun and conversation on a schedule that works for you. But make the commitment and set the dates. It takes time to develop a habit you can stick to, so plan for success!

Looking for a way to keep track of your meals? Sign up for our free Dinner Tonight program and get access to our Dinner Tracker, where you can record how many meals you’re having together as you work towards your goals! »

The Earl family of This Star Won’t Go Out are special friends of The Family Dinner Project. We’re thrilled to share their family dinner story this month in honor of Esther Day, the August 3rd “alternative Valentine’s Day” that celebrates the life of their daughter Esther!

Real Family Dinner Projects: The Earl Family »