Studies show that eating meals together has a variety of benefits for families. Many times, though, getting together in one place for a meal can be a struggle. Dinner together isn’t always realistic given family members’ busy work and school schedules. Instead, dinner becomes a thrown-together process as everyone rushes in or rout the door. How can that change? You might not be able to eat an evening meal together, but you still have options to enjoy a family meal.
Enjoy breakfast together. Would it fit better for your family for your shared meal to be breakfast together? That meal never requires us to be fancy, yet the time you spend together could be priceless as everyone prepares to start their day. We have a variety of breakfast fixings, easy-to-prepare and ready-to-serve breakfast options.
Enjoy a meal out. Dinner together doesn’t have to be around your own dinner table. It could be at a park, or on your back patio. Just stop by our deli for a delicious meal.
Switch your family meal to a weekend. If your family’s schedule during the week is so full you can’t fit in an evening meal together, take the time to eat together for at least one meal over the weekend. It could be a morning brunch or a late afternoon meal together.
Involve everyone in the preparations. Have everyone do their part to get a meal on the table. That can include prepping food, making a salad, putting out plates and silverware, and even cleaning up after the meal. No one should just rush in and out of the meal. It may mean delegating, but it is important.
Order in. Bring in a prepared or oven-ready meal that everyone enjoys. Meals don’t have to be home-cooked or perfect for these family dinners. Select pre-washed salad and fixings and some fresh bread from our bakery to go with your meal.
Consider your budget and time constraints as you look at your options. Using your slow cooker, prepping and freezing meals earlier in the week or month and taking advantage of all of our ready-to-serve and oven-ready meal options can help make family dinner a reality. For example, who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner sometimes or simply popping in a frozen pizza or two?
The point of family meals together is to simply be together. Even if you feel there isn’t much talking going on, you are helping to make memories as well as build life skills. It’s why you shouldn’t be overwhelmed with the thought of a family meal together. Instead, simply enjoy the time together regardless of what and when you eat.
