How much do you cook nice meals?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids have activities that have evening hours, and those hours are not the same as each other. When we are all home, probably one night Mon-Fri, we all eat together. Whoever is home around 6-6:30 eats together. No one in my house can wait to eat until after 7, everyone gets hungry. So different combinations of us eat at different times. We are a family of five, and sometimes this is nice so DH and I get to focus on just one or two kids at a time, while kid #2 or #3 is at an activity.

We always eat together at home on Sunday nights, and usually it ends up one or two other nights a week. It's just not possible the other nights. (I have a dancer- so to "prioritize" family dinners would mean she could not do her activity at all based on when classes are held).

I grew up similarly and I managed to have good table manners and the ability to make dinner conversation. And when we do sit down together I am certainly not dealing with cloth napkins!

How old are your kids? Bc if they are middle school or up, they CAN wait to eat; they are just unwilling.

We have 1 HS kid and 1 MS kid, but play multiple sports, theater, band. Dinner is usually on the table around 9:00 PM. Some nights at 9:30

That means there's always at least one person that is at home waiting for dinner. But we wait, bc family dinner is important

[Anonymous]

I cook once a week on Sunday for monday-wednesday. Thursday usually a pizza from frozen or some frozen meals from Trader Joe, Friday, Saturday my husband typically cooks/grills something nice ( lobster, scallops, shrimps, meat, tuna) .

We mostly eat home made meals, but not necessarily cooked that same day. The rule is that all members of the family are present at the dinner table. Dinner is always the time we all meet after working day, we talk, we eat. With proper set up, utensils, napkins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have activities that have evening hours, and those hours are not the same as each other. When we are all home, probably one night Mon-Fri, we all eat together. Whoever is home around 6-6:30 eats together. No one in my house can wait to eat until after 7, everyone gets hungry. So different combinations of us eat at different times. We are a family of five, and sometimes this is nice so DH and I get to focus on just one or two kids at a time, while kid #2 or #3 is at an activity.

We always eat together at home on Sunday nights, and usually it ends up one or two other nights a week. It's just not possible the other nights. (I have a dancer- so to "prioritize" family dinners would mean she could not do her activity at all based on when classes are held).

I grew up similarly and I managed to have good table manners and the ability to make dinner conversation. And when we do sit down together I am certainly not dealing with cloth napkins!

How old are your kids? Bc if they are middle school or up, they CAN wait to eat; they are just unwilling.

We have 1 HS kid and 1 MS kid, but play multiple sports, theater, band. Dinner is usually on the table around 9:00 PM. Some nights at 9:30

That means there's always at least one person that is at home waiting for dinner. But we wait, bc family dinner is important

different poster, but there is no way we'd wait to eat until that late, it's almost bed time! How are kids who are active waiting that long to eat?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have activities that have evening hours, and those hours are not the same as each other. When we are all home, probably one night Mon-Fri, we all eat together. Whoever is home around 6-6:30 eats together. No one in my house can wait to eat until after 7, everyone gets hungry. So different combinations of us eat at different times. We are a family of five, and sometimes this is nice so DH and I get to focus on just one or two kids at a time, while kid #2 or #3 is at an activity.

We always eat together at home on Sunday nights, and usually it ends up one or two other nights a week. It's just not possible the other nights. (I have a dancer- so to "prioritize" family dinners would mean she could not do her activity at all based on when classes are held).

I grew up similarly and I managed to have good table manners and the ability to make dinner conversation. And when we do sit down together I am certainly not dealing with cloth napkins!

How old are your kids? Bc if they are middle school or up, they CAN wait to eat; they are just unwilling.

We have 1 HS kid and 1 MS kid, but play multiple sports, theater, band. Dinner is usually on the table around 9:00 PM. Some nights at 9:30

That means there's always at least one person that is at home waiting for dinner. But we wait, bc family dinner is important

different poster, but there is no way we'd wait to eat until that late, it's almost bed time! How are kids who are active waiting that long to eat?!

You have a snack at 4:30 before practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have activities that have evening hours, and those hours are not the same as each other. When we are all home, probably one night Mon-Fri, we all eat together. Whoever is home around 6-6:30 eats together. No one in my house can wait to eat until after 7, everyone gets hungry. So different combinations of us eat at different times. We are a family of five, and sometimes this is nice so DH and I get to focus on just one or two kids at a time, while kid #2 or #3 is at an activity.

We always eat together at home on Sunday nights, and usually it ends up one or two other nights a week. It's just not possible the other nights. (I have a dancer- so to "prioritize" family dinners would mean she could not do her activity at all based on when classes are held).

I grew up similarly and I managed to have good table manners and the ability to make dinner conversation. And when we do sit down together I am certainly not dealing with cloth napkins!

How old are your kids? Bc if they are middle school or up, they CAN wait to eat; they are just unwilling.

We have 1 HS kid and 1 MS kid, but play multiple sports, theater, band. Dinner is usually on the table around 9:00 PM. Some nights at 9:30

That means there's always at least one person that is at home waiting for dinner. But we wait, bc family dinner is important

Glad you've found something that works for your family. There is no way we could have dinner at 9 or 9:30 and still have kids getting a decent night's sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have activities that have evening hours, and those hours are not the same as each other. When we are all home, probably one night Mon-Fri, we all eat together. Whoever is home around 6-6:30 eats together. No one in my house can wait to eat until after 7, everyone gets hungry. So different combinations of us eat at different times. We are a family of five, and sometimes this is nice so DH and I get to focus on just one or two kids at a time, while kid #2 or #3 is at an activity.

We always eat together at home on Sunday nights, and usually it ends up one or two other nights a week. It's just not possible the other nights. (I have a dancer- so to "prioritize" family dinners would mean she could not do her activity at all based on when classes are held).

I grew up similarly and I managed to have good table manners and the ability to make dinner conversation. And when we do sit down together I am certainly not dealing with cloth napkins!

How old are your kids? Bc if they are middle school or up, they CAN wait to eat; they are just unwilling.

We have 1 HS kid and 1 MS kid, but play multiple sports, theater, band. Dinner is usually on the table around 9:00 PM. Some nights at 9:30

That means there's always at least one person that is at home waiting for dinner. But we wait, bc family dinner is important

Glad you've found something that works for your family. There is no way we could have dinner at 9 or 9:30 and still have kids getting a decent night's sleep.

Well, that's what I asked how old the kids were, bc a HS kid isn't going to bed to 10:30/11:00 anyway, regardless of when dinner is

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have activities that have evening hours, and those hours are not the same as each other. When we are all home, probably one night Mon-Fri, we all eat together. Whoever is home around 6-6:30 eats together. No one in my house can wait to eat until after 7, everyone gets hungry. So different combinations of us eat at different times. We are a family of five, and sometimes this is nice so DH and I get to focus on just one or two kids at a time, while kid #2 or #3 is at an activity.

We always eat together at home on Sunday nights, and usually it ends up one or two other nights a week. It's just not possible the other nights. (I have a dancer- so to "prioritize" family dinners would mean she could not do her activity at all based on when classes are held).

I grew up similarly and I managed to have good table manners and the ability to make dinner conversation. And when we do sit down together I am certainly not dealing with cloth napkins!

How old are your kids? Bc if they are middle school or up, they CAN wait to eat; they are just unwilling.

We have 1 HS kid and 1 MS kid, but play multiple sports, theater, band. Dinner is usually on the table around 9:00 PM. Some nights at 9:30

That means there's always at least one person that is at home waiting for dinner. But we wait, bc family dinner is important

I’m 50 years old and I’m not waiting to eat dinner until almost 10pm every night. That’s ludicrous. And frankly eating dinner and going straight to bed isn’t all that healthy. And no I’m not making my growing teenager wait that long to eat either if he’s hungry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have activities that have evening hours, and those hours are not the same as each other. When we are all home, probably one night Mon-Fri, we all eat together. Whoever is home around 6-6:30 eats together. No one in my house can wait to eat until after 7, everyone gets hungry. So different combinations of us eat at different times. We are a family of five, and sometimes this is nice so DH and I get to focus on just one or two kids at a time, while kid #2 or #3 is at an activity.

We always eat together at home on Sunday nights, and usually it ends up one or two other nights a week. It's just not possible the other nights. (I have a dancer- so to "prioritize" family dinners would mean she could not do her activity at all based on when classes are held).

I grew up similarly and I managed to have good table manners and the ability to make dinner conversation. And when we do sit down together I am certainly not dealing with cloth napkins!

How old are your kids? Bc if they are middle school or up, they CAN wait to eat; they are just unwilling.

We have 1 HS kid and 1 MS kid, but play multiple sports, theater, band. Dinner is usually on the table around 9:00 PM. Some nights at 9:30

That means there's always at least one person that is at home waiting for dinner. But we wait, bc family dinner is important

I’m sorry but this is CRAZY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have activities that have evening hours, and those hours are not the same as each other. When we are all home, probably one night Mon-Fri, we all eat together. Whoever is home around 6-6:30 eats together. No one in my house can wait to eat until after 7, everyone gets hungry. So different combinations of us eat at different times. We are a family of five, and sometimes this is nice so DH and I get to focus on just one or two kids at a time, while kid #2 or #3 is at an activity.

We always eat together at home on Sunday nights, and usually it ends up one or two other nights a week. It's just not possible the other nights. (I have a dancer- so to "prioritize" family dinners would mean she could not do her activity at all based on when classes are held).

I grew up similarly and I managed to have good table manners and the ability to make dinner conversation. And when we do sit down together I am certainly not dealing with cloth napkins!

How old are your kids? Bc if they are middle school or up, they CAN wait to eat; they are just unwilling.

We have 1 HS kid and 1 MS kid, but play multiple sports, theater, band. Dinner is usually on the table around 9:00 PM. Some nights at 9:30

That means there's always at least one person that is at home waiting for dinner. But we wait, bc family dinner is important

I’m sorry but this is CRAZY.

+1

Crazy

[Anonymous]

Dual working parents and 3 kids. We don’t have time for nice meals. We cook at home every night rather than eat out but all meals take about 30 mins to make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have activities that have evening hours, and those hours are not the same as each other. When we are all home, probably one night Mon-Fri, we all eat together. Whoever is home around 6-6:30 eats together. No one in my house can wait to eat until after 7, everyone gets hungry. So different combinations of us eat at different times. We are a family of five, and sometimes this is nice so DH and I get to focus on just one or two kids at a time, while kid #2 or #3 is at an activity.

We always eat together at home on Sunday nights, and usually it ends up one or two other nights a week. It's just not possible the other nights. (I have a dancer- so to "prioritize" family dinners would mean she could not do her activity at all based on when classes are held).

I grew up similarly and I managed to have good table manners and the ability to make dinner conversation. And when we do sit down together I am certainly not dealing with cloth napkins!

How old are your kids? Bc if they are middle school or up, they CAN wait to eat; they are just unwilling.

We have 1 HS kid and 1 MS kid, but play multiple sports, theater, band. Dinner is usually on the table around 9:00 PM. Some nights at 9:30

That means there's always at least one person that is at home waiting for dinner. But we wait, bc family dinner is important

I’m 50 years old and I’m not waiting to eat dinner until almost 10pm every night. That’s ludicrous. And frankly eating dinner and going straight to bed isn’t all that healthy. And no I’m not making my growing teenager wait that long to eat either if he’s hungry.

9:30 pm, wow. Very Mediterranean. And therefore would never work with our American schedules here, only if we all had a nice big lunch and some downtime midday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have activities that have evening hours, and those hours are not the same as each other. When we are all home, probably one night Mon-Fri, we all eat together. Whoever is home around 6-6:30 eats together. No one in my house can wait to eat until after 7, everyone gets hungry. So different combinations of us eat at different times. We are a family of five, and sometimes this is nice so DH and I get to focus on just one or two kids at a time, while kid #2 or #3 is at an activity.

We always eat together at home on Sunday nights, and usually it ends up one or two other nights a week. It's just not possible the other nights. (I have a dancer- so to "prioritize" family dinners would mean she could not do her activity at all based on when classes are held).

I grew up similarly and I managed to have good table manners and the ability to make dinner conversation. And when we do sit down together I am certainly not dealing with cloth napkins!

How old are your kids? Bc if they are middle school or up, they CAN wait to eat; they are just unwilling.

We have 1 HS kid and 1 MS kid, but play multiple sports, theater, band. Dinner is usually on the table around 9:00 PM. Some nights at 9:30

That means there's always at least one person that is at home waiting for dinner. But we wait, bc family dinner is important

I can’t wait until 9 or 9:30 for dinner. That is kind of crazy if you are up for the day at 6 / 6:30 am.

Happy that works for you & yours. But that schedule is not typical or desirable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have activities that have evening hours, and those hours are not the same as each other. When we are all home, probably one night Mon-Fri, we all eat together. Whoever is home around 6-6:30 eats together. No one in my house can wait to eat until after 7, everyone gets hungry. So different combinations of us eat at different times. We are a family of five, and sometimes this is nice so DH and I get to focus on just one or two kids at a time, while kid #2 or #3 is at an activity.

We always eat together at home on Sunday nights, and usually it ends up one or two other nights a week. It's just not possible the other nights. (I have a dancer- so to "prioritize" family dinners would mean she could not do her activity at all based on when classes are held).

I grew up similarly and I managed to have good table manners and the ability to make dinner conversation. And when we do sit down together I am certainly not dealing with cloth napkins!

How old are your kids? Bc if they are middle school or up, they CAN wait to eat; they are just unwilling.

We have 1 HS kid and 1 MS kid, but play multiple sports, theater, band. Dinner is usually on the table around 9:00 PM. Some nights at 9:30

That means there's always at least one person that is at home waiting for dinner. But we wait, bc family dinner is important

different poster, but there is no way we'd wait to eat until that late, it's almost bed time! How are kids who are active waiting that long to eat?!

You have a snack at 4:30 before practice.

So basically you eat 4 meals a day.

Your kids are not waiting to eat. They just eat 4 meals a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have activities that have evening hours, and those hours are not the same as each other. When we are all home, probably one night Mon-Fri, we all eat together. Whoever is home around 6-6:30 eats together. No one in my house can wait to eat until after 7, everyone gets hungry. So different combinations of us eat at different times. We are a family of five, and sometimes this is nice so DH and I get to focus on just one or two kids at a time, while kid #2 or #3 is at an activity.

We always eat together at home on Sunday nights, and usually it ends up one or two other nights a week. It's just not possible the other nights. (I have a dancer- so to "prioritize" family dinners would mean she could not do her activity at all based on when classes are held).

I grew up similarly and I managed to have good table manners and the ability to make dinner conversation. And when we do sit down together I am certainly not dealing with cloth napkins!

How old are your kids? Bc if they are middle school or up, they CAN wait to eat; they are just unwilling.

We have 1 HS kid and 1 MS kid, but play multiple sports, theater, band. Dinner is usually on the table around 9:00 PM. Some nights at 9:30

That means there's always at least one person that is at home waiting for dinner. But we wait, bc family dinner is important

different poster, but there is no way we'd wait to eat until that late, it's almost bed time! How are kids who are active waiting that long to eat?!

You have a snack at 4:30 before practice.

So basically you eat 4 meals a day.

Your kids are not waiting to eat. They just eat 4 meals a day.

Yes, bc a granola bar is definitely a meal

I'm just saying that if eating a meal together as a family is a priority, then its a priority and you make it work. You either forgo some activities or have your dinner at unusual times.

As others have mentioned, they eat dinner together at 4 or 430. That's no less unusual that having dinner at 9:00.

And for those saying its unhealthy (again, ), it's really not. And any health "risk" is offset by the advantages of having dedicated family time together each day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have activities that have evening hours, and those hours are not the same as each other. When we are all home, probably one night Mon-Fri, we all eat together. Whoever is home around 6-6:30 eats together. No one in my house can wait to eat until after 7, everyone gets hungry. So different combinations of us eat at different times. We are a family of five, and sometimes this is nice so DH and I get to focus on just one or two kids at a time, while kid #2 or #3 is at an activity.

We always eat together at home on Sunday nights, and usually it ends up one or two other nights a week. It's just not possible the other nights. (I have a dancer- so to "prioritize" family dinners would mean she could not do her activity at all based on when classes are held).

I grew up similarly and I managed to have good table manners and the ability to make dinner conversation. And when we do sit down together I am certainly not dealing with cloth napkins!

How old are your kids? Bc if they are middle school or up, they CAN wait to eat; they are just unwilling.

We have 1 HS kid and 1 MS kid, but play multiple sports, theater, band. Dinner is usually on the table around 9:00 PM. Some nights at 9:30

That means there's always at least one person that is at home waiting for dinner. But we wait, bc family dinner is important

different poster, but there is no way we'd wait to eat until that late, it's almost bed time! How are kids who are active waiting that long to eat?!

You have a snack at 4:30 before practice.

So basically you eat 4 meals a day.

Your kids are not waiting to eat. They just eat 4 meals a day.

Yes, bc a granola bar is definitely a meal

I'm just saying that if eating a meal together as a family is a priority, then its a priority and you make it work. You either forgo some activities or have your dinner at unusual times.

As others have mentioned, they eat dinner together at 4 or 430. That's no less unusual that having dinner at 9:00.

And for those saying its unhealthy (again, ), it's really not. And any health "risk" is offset by the advantages of having dedicated family time together each day.

Out of curiosity, how early are you guys eating dinner on a regular day?

Even on a 'free' day, we don't eat until 7:30 or 8:00. So waiting an extra hour doesn't seem that crazy.