reclaiming dinner

{note: I love all the questions asked below... thanks for your interest. keep them coming if you'd like! Look for the first q&a post soon. For now, here's something I've been thinking about for a bit.}

I have been in a dinner funk for, oh say, the last 2 years! I have been relying heavily on trader joe's frozen meals and eating out. Some of this is because of babies and busy-ness, but a lot of it plain laziness!

I am attempting to turn over a new leaf: good family dinners together, whenever possible.

I have read the reports. Children in families who eat dinner together have lower chances of trying drugs and alcohol, have less stress, eat better, get better grades. See a great article in the NY Times about this.

The last two weeks have gone quite well. I menu plan on sunday night, shop on monday. I try to plan at least one crock pot meal (for the very busy day), and one night for leftovers. Tuesday nights are usually quick and easy (think breakfast for dinner) because morgan has late meetings. I'm also attempting a new recipe once a week-- I am getting sick of the same old same old!

My menus for the last two weeks:

Mon: Peanut Chicken, Coconut Rice and Asian Salad
Tues: Puffed pancake with raspberry syrup
Wed: Crockpot texas pulled pork
Thurs: Dinner with neighbors (brought leftovers)
Fri: Order in Pizza
Sat: Leftovers
Sun: Everything but the kitchen sink quesadillas (**a hit with the kids)

Mon: Out to eat (Wahoo's)
Tues: Pancakes & fruit
Wed: Meatball sandwiches
Thurs: Salmon & Warm spinach salad (**kids loved it)
Fri: Date night, kids: Dino bites
Sat: Leftovers
Sun: Dad's dinner: eggs, hash browns, bacon

Three of these dinners were recipes off a great dinner blog, This Week for Dinner. Check out the side bar, "Main Dishes". The texas pulled pork was sweet and delicious. The kids gobbled up the quesadillas and the salmon. Try these recipes off the TWFD blog-- you will not be sorry!

Dinners together create teaching opportunities. We are working on staying at the table until you're excused, saying please and thank you, using a napkin, and not talking with your mouth full of food! It's sloooooow progress.

Dinners together create conversation. The kids are used to the "What was your best and worst today?" question, so I want to mix it up. I've typed up a bunch of questions (you can download them here if you'd like Download family_conversation_starters.doc) that I am planning on cutting up and putting in a glass jar. Each night at dinner, we'll choose one and hopefully it will spark some new and interesting conversation.
Once those questions run out, these Table Topics
look great!

Dinners together create routine and family work. One of my favorite parts of dinner time is working together afterwards! The kids have their assigned tasks, we turn on some music and try to have fun cleaning up together. I am not always so dilligent about getting my kids to work (let's face it, it's faster and easier to do it myself most of the time), so it helps in that department.

What dinner tips, tricks or recipes do you have and love?
What works in your house?

Comments

[Becky Fellows]

Elizabeth,

I want the peanut chicken and cocunut rice recipe. Can you tell I'm hungry? It all sounds so good to me right now. I also want you to do a post on photo taking tips, as you can probably see I need it!!! I love looking at your blog, it is fun to read. Take care!
Becky

[kelly]

I am for sure going to check out the recipe blog. I am ALWAYS looking for new ideas. We do "high/lows" at dinner every night, and we just started doing the family edition of Table Topics - kids love it! Thanks for some great ideas!

[Traci Garff]

Buff- I have this childhood memory of Dad. I was eating raisen bran and was done, but Dad didn't think so. He made me finish until I ate the whole thing. I have a vivid image of looking at the mushy raisen bran and wanting to throw up. Don't do it.
Love, Me

[ashley]

very impressive. i'm excited to start a good dinner routine someday. we try to get at least a couple family meals in each week and it always makes me feel good when we do. i'm going to start implementing some of your ideas!

[sara]

I have to say we cook a lot of fresh stuff, however, it is so easy to get in ruts, and I think that is a great goal to try something new each week, I love your table talk ideas too...we usually just talk about trains and the fun things we did during the day, I am sure that will change as the kiddies get older. My kids favorite meal...both...chicken pockets..chicken/cream cheese mixture baked in a pillsbury croissant.

[allie]

FAVORITE POST EVER! I'm so inspired to do it all right now :)

[Martha]

E-
Thinking of dinners can be so exhausting. I've loved the Sunday planning idea...it just seems to make things easier. I also have tried to swap dinners with a friend...like I take to them once a week and they bring to us once a week...or twice, whatever works. It's so nice to have 1 or two days to not cook, and know that dinner will be there. Also, check out a blog I set up...simplydelicioustoo.blogspot.com...it has lots of great ideas from people all over who have added them. I've tried a few and they are fantastic.

[Annie]

Amen. We are trying a set hour of everyday. This last week, I caved to Designed Dinners and it has been great. I've got a month's worth of food all ready to go. I just need to think of sides. I've got a sheet from somone with lots of questions to ask at the dinner table. I'll find it and pass it along. Keep up the good work, because it sure is work with little ones. :)

[stacy]

we've been trying to do this for awhile - some weeks are good, some are not so good. but the world is a better place even if we just try. ps. i have two of the table topis "girls night out" and the one for couples. the girls night out is hysterical and highly recommend it for any "friend" gift. boy do you learn new things about your friends REALLY quick!

[lesli streets]

i think this is a great idea. i always love when we sit down with the family to a great meal. i think it is one of my favorite family times.

[Nikki]

E-
My friend Emily has the best basil chicken recipe ever. I will have to get you a copy - and I am trying something new tonight - corned beef! I'll let you know how it turns out :)