Time for Dinner!

For a weekday Relief Society Meeting we shared a pot luck dinner and discussion on dinner ideas for families.  Here is some info that was shared:

Ten Simple Steps to successful family dinners: Laurie David from The Family Dinner
1. It's a date.  Set a regular time
2. Everyone comes to the table at the same time.  No stragglers.  Even if you don't eat, you still participate.
3. No phone for anybody.  No answering, no texting. If someone mistakenly brings a phone to the table, it is your for as long as you wish to keep it.  It will only happen once.
4. One meal, no substitutions.  Serve meals that have kid-friendly ingredients (simple meats, veggies, fruits and grains).  Be prepared for initial stubbornness--you kids will learn to like new things
5. Everyone tries everything. It shows respect to the person who cooked.  Maybe they won't care for it or it may become a favorite.
6. No television.  Once in a while when something really special is on (Olympics, finals of a big game) the TV can be invited as a special treat.
7. Water only to drink.  Served cold with garnishes, it encourages healthy habits of drinking water.  Most of us don't drink enough of it.  Don't forget, you are establishing patterns that you hope will last a lifetime.
8. Friends and family welcome.  Conversations ramps up, manners improve, everyone lingers.  The more the merrier!
10. Everyone helps clean up. It's fun and faster when everyone chips in. Switch duties so that no one is stuck with a job they dislike all the time.

Some other tips for making time for family dinner are: (ehow.com)
1. Be realistic.  If you have difficult time having family dinner together, add one more family dinner than you do now.
2. Plan and keep recipes that you have time to prepare.  Invest in a crock pot or other tools that will help make dinner easy to prepare, so you're more likely to eat at home.
3. Shop once. Save time by planning first and shop for the whole week.
4. Have the family help prepare and clean up.

Some ways to make dinner fun are: (source: ehow.com)
Work on manners at breakfast and lunch so you don't have to reprimand at dinner.
Ask open ended questions
Let the kids choose and cook a meal once a week
Have theme nights (barbecue or Italian night)
Discuss problems a different time, keep conversation positive
Laugh and enjoy one another
Have a guest of honor
Make it a buffet
Take them out to eat

Other ideas Relief Society Sisters shared were:
Make holidays special dinner times (Valentine etiquette dinner, voting on dinner entrees in November, Chinese New Year, Ma rte Gra (King Cake & gumbo), etc.
Have dinner/movie nights: spaghetti and watch Lady and the Tramp, etc.
Eat food from around the world
Have dinner and learn about etiquette rules from around the world
Have a picnic (make it an indoor picnic in the winter!)
Rotate who makes/chooses dinner entree
Educational place mats
Get conversation starters (and use them)
Ask about family histories (have time to ask mom and dad about when they were little, etc.)
Have grandparents, special guests of honor for dinner
Use special plate for birthday, special accomplishments, etc.
Use other times (like dessert or late night ice cream) to bond and talk with your kids about what is important to them.
Have kids help budget and plan meals.  Take them shopping, have them look at ads, or have them look at the pantry and figure out "what's for dinner tonight."
Figure out a time when dinner can work. If because of work schedules, it doesn't happen, adjust.  Make Breakfast your "meal" or lunch.  Have a snack and eat dinner together later when dad gets home.  Find a time to have meals together as a family.
Ask "what is the best thing that happened today, what is the worst?"
Ask "how/who did you serve today?"
Time how fast they can get to the table.  Take away "time" from date nights/curfews (teens) when they waste your "time" waiting for them to come to the table.

I'm sure I missed something. If you have an idea or a comment, feel free to share!