Dad's Home for Dinner!
January 30, 2012
Cameron Stracher admits he's a Type A personality; so, when this lawyer/author/consultant realized how much time he was spending commuting and working, and how little time he was spending with his family, he came up with a plan:
Starting a Conversation
January 23, 2012
We used some conversation starters recently at the end of a big, four-generation, family meal.
Dream Job
January 16, 2012
Some years ago, my friend Tom set to work on his dream, building a schooner to take people on cruises around our harbor. Building the boat was an exercise in coordination — tight spaces, tight schedule, tight budget.
Cheap and Cheery
January 9, 2012
Let's hear it for all you inventive and cost-conscious home cooks! Two recent challenges highlighted just how many tasty meals are being produced every night for very reasonable sums.
New Year Makeover
January 2, 2012
It's amazing what you can learn in school. In my town, school lunches have gotten a makeover that includes factors ranging from nutrition to eye appeal. As parents, we can learn about how to engage the kids to make the most of new food experiences.
As Simple as ABC
December 26, 2011
We've known for years that kids do better if their families have regular meals. Now, a new study in the journal Child Development gives us specific ideas we all can use.
Writers Talking
December 19, 2011
Lucky writers get to go to writing retreats — places where, for a short space of time, they can work without interruption. Typically, a writer gets a room, meals and a critical combination of privacy and company.
Want to Eat/ Have to Eat
December 12, 2011
We do an odd thing when we are eating with children. We tell them that, if they eat x, they can have y for dessert. What does that teach them?
Tradition!
December 5, 2011
For holiday meals at my house, we bring out the good dishes. They are delicate blue, gray and white china with clouds, sea and seagulls. Even though we live near the water, I never would, or could, have bought them myself.
Around the Wedding
November 28, 2011
Coming home from my nephew's wedding, I'm remembering a series of significant meals.
Giving, and Getting
November 21, 2011
One year, Thanksgiving was just going to be our nuclear family. Thinking that would be less of a holiday than we'd like, I called our local shelter to volunteer our family to help serve the Thanksgiving meal.
Negotiating Dinner
November 14, 2011
Did you ever consider that rather than teaching your kids about making balanced food choices or about how to behave at the table, you actually may be teaching them something entirely different?
Teaching Technique
November 7, 2011
My friend David taught history in a high school with kids who came from across the spectrum. Some spoke up in class; some didn't. "How to engage them in the topic, that's the question," he says. "The art of teaching is how to get the kids to talk."
Cooking Makes Community
November 1, 2011
Here is something new to chew over: Anthropologist Richard Wrangham has advanced the idea that, thousands of years ago, when people tamed fire and began to cook their food, it allowed them to evolve and develop family relationships.
Family Moments to be Thankful For
October 24, 2011
Here is the great thing about those special times: They have a way of sneaking up on us. We don't always know what they will be. But when they happen, we say, Of course. How lovely. I couldn't have planned it better.
Early Morning Meals
October 17, 2011
What makes a family meal? Here is a new entry in the definition sweepstakes:
Learning to Parent
October 10, 2011
My friend works with a very successful program for moms who need parenting help. These are women rebuilding their lives with their kids, many who have been in foster care.
Putting the Fun in Family Meals
October 3, 2011
Every meal is a little bit of a celebration: we are all here together, sharing something good. If you are on the lookout for ways to expand that feeling, you will stay open to new ideas.
In and Out of the Office
September 26, 2011
My friend Lexie works in a job that requires lots of site work. Along with her colleagues, she says, “We spend a lot of time together out in the field.”
The Highlight of Junior High
September 19, 2011
My friend Jill has a very clear memory of lunch in the ninth grade. She was one of a few self-described “nerdy” girls. “Nobody wanted to eat lunch with us,” she recalls.
Ultimate Meals
September 12, 2011
In case you don’t know, there actually is a team sport involving Frisbees. Tova is captain of an adult Ultimate Frisbee team that plays on weekends.
Family Day Times Ten
September 5, 2011
It’s been a decade now that the U.S. has been celebrating Family Day — A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children. Studies continue to show that, in families that regularly eat together, youngsters enjoy a host of advantages, including fewer problems with substance abuse, and even better grades in school.
Ages and Stages
August 22, 2011
When I met Ed recently, he told me that he had three kids whose ages range from high school to 24. They all live at home.
Telecommuting, Real Eating
August 15, 2011
Craig and his wife both have serious jobs that involve lots of travel. And when they’re at home, they are likely to be telecommuting. Even if they both spend the day working from home, they tend not to talk to each other. Working across time zones, continents and schedules can sometimes squeeze marriage into the margins.
New Americans
August 8, 2011
My friend Evy teaches English to people who have recently arrived in the U.S. When looking for
topics that everyone can relate to, given their limited English skills, food is always popular. In these families, family meals are often central. Typically, except for people who work in restaurants, almost all meals are eaten at home.
Make Dinner the Default
August 1, 2011
It doesn't matter if your calendar is high tech or low. In a sense, all calendars come pre-loaded. Some have smaller spaces for weekends. Some list national holidays; others include religious observances. Some give details of school schedules. These choices let us know what is important. (That's where the term red letter day comes from.)
There's Even a Name for It
July 25, 2011
You know how the differences among languages tell us about the differences among cultures? I'm thinking of a word in Spanish and Portuguese that does not exist in English.
Ruth Meets the Girlfriend
July 18, 2011
Recently, my friend Ruth got the call from her son: "I've been dating this girl for awhile, and she's really lovely. I'd like you to meet her."
One Family's Reunion
July 11, 2011
This year my friend Barbara is hosting the family reunion. This group gets together every year, but this marks the fifth anniversary of the passing of her father, who was the mainstay of the reunions.
Bringing Along the Next Generation
July 4, 2011
When Gillian was growing up in post-World War II England, she ate local foods and had almost all meals with the family. There were not many other options.
Cooking in College
June 20, 2011
When Luke moved into an off-campus apartment this past semester, he knew that he and his housemates wanted to share shopping, cooking, and eating – for a few suppers a week, anyway. "It just seemed like a no-brainer," he says. "It's easier, more cost-effective. We eat better, and we all care about sharing meals together."
Crunch Time
June 13, 2011
My friend Althea's family is wrapping up another school year — rushing through the home stretch of rehearsals, performances, tournaments, tests. Normally, family dinner at her house is pretty much a given. But this time of year, everything is up for grabs. She is picking up her kids at odd times, squeezing in the volunteer jobs that help these end-of-year events go off well.
Birthday Picnics
June 6, 2011
What happens when you mix two fun concepts together? An easy recipe for success.
Teaching and Learning at Meals
May 30, 2011
Our behavior at mealtimes may feel automatic. But an English book about conflict between parents and children gives us an intimate look into how we can use mealtimes to help smooth out family life.
Across the Pond
May 23, 2011
How do we feel about our family meals? A recent study by a leading British newspaper produced some fascinating figures; then let us see how people responded to the statistics.
The Box on the Porch
May 16, 2011
My friend Marilyn is undergoing chemotherapy. No fun, but the family is getting through it with the help of their community. A key part is having people cook dinners a few nights a week. Friends have even found a website that coordinates the volunteers. And, if no one is home, friends can leave their meals in an insulated box on the porch.
Spring Picnics
May 9, 2011
Both of my children live in city neighborhoods that have spacious, well-used parks. For young urban families, picnics are a way of life.
Aaron and Zoe
May 2, 2011
My daughter is at home with a new baby. She's at the stage where she counts it an achievement to get dressed and get out of the house. Still, it's an adventure. And she has friends who want to share it with her.
Constant Snacking vs. Consistent Meals
April 25, 2011
If you have very young children, you know two things that are small: your kids' appetites, and their attention spans.
Italian Grandmothers for Everyone
April 18, 2011
Can you guess what cookbook is making the bestseller lists? It's the record of a young American woman who spent a year in Italy living with a dozen different Italian grandmothers. She was after their recipes for meals, and for life.
Brainstorming Better Meals
April 11, 2011
When I talk to groups of parents, they are eager to share strategies. Many have come up with good ideas for their own families; ideas that can help others as well.
New Baby, New Parents
April 4, 2011
My daughter just had a beautiful baby girl. (Thank you for your congratulations!) Although this is granddaughter number three for me, it is number one for my daughter and her husband. They have crossed the threshold from being just people to becoming parents. You can imagine that I have been at their house helping out, and that this help has involved making supper.
Caring for the Caregivers
March 28, 2011
Sue, who is a health care professional, grew up in Thailand. She loves the major U.S. hospital where she now works, but she worries about the pace of the work. "There is so much stress here," she says, adding that her colleagues say they have seen the change over the past 10 or 15 years. "There may be 100 people in my department, and I only know the names of 20 of them."
Try These Figures on for Size
March 21, 2011
A new survey gives us some very interesting numbers to use when we think about the benefits of family meals. When families share a meal, 82 percent of parents feel closer to their children, and 72 percent of kids feel closer to their parents. Three quarters of parents and 60 percent of kids wish that they could spend more time together.
New Glue in Town
March 14, 2011
My friend Kris recently moved back to the small city where she spent much of her childhood. Her widowed mom needed help, so they sold the old house and moved to a more convenient one.
Snow Day
March 7, 2011
Yes, Virginia, sometimes grown ups get snow days too. During our last big storm, everything shut down tight. Luckily, my husband and I had lots of work we could do in the house, and I had made it to the supermarket before that, too, closed.
Manners, Manners!
February 28, 2011
When I saw my four-year-old granddaughter recently, I was struck by how much her table manners had improved. (Just between you and me, they hadn't exactly been sterling.) But here she was, doing so much better with her silverware, so much less likely to attack her food with her hands.
Routine Rewards
February 21, 2011
We've talked a lot about how having regular dependable mealtimes can help keep your family on an even keel. A new study about childhood obesity helps to explain how this works. Researchers looked at three common household routines – "regularly eating the evening meal as a family, obtaining adequate sleep, and limiting screen-viewing time." They wondered if preschool kids who had the benefits of these routines might be more likely to maintain a healthy weight.
Fearless Feasts
February 14, 2011
When Adam was growing up, his mother made sure the family ate dinner together, but no one had any cooking skills to speak of. When Adam went to college, he joined a co-op dining group. Students were responsible for taking turns feeding 100 of their fellow co-opers.
Delicious Education
February 7, 2011
My niece Ellen teaches a continuing education class for teachers. Because it meets in the evening, supper is an issue. Other professors take a break mid-class, and students go out and buy fast food. Ellen encourages her students to bring something with them, so they can all eat together.
Cook for Me, Mom and Dad!
February 1, 2011
Monica Bhide has not lived with her parents for ages. She long ago left her home in India to move to the U.S. These days, she is a food writer. Her cooking is in demand, and she enjoys making meals for those she loves.
Teen Talk
January 24, 2011
The anti-drug organization that first documented the power of family meals has some new research that gives us a window into the lives of our teens. CASA, the Center on Alcohol and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, has found that three out of four teens talk to their parents at dinner about what is going on in their lives. And eight in ten parents say that having family dinner helps keep them connected to their teens.
Toddlers Sitting Still?
January 17, 2011
These days, as a grandmother, I get to spend lots of time with toddlers. They run, they laugh, they hug. One thing they do not do very well, though, is sit still. Which makes for very quick mealtimes.
Mealtime Jobs
January 10, 2011
One family I know swears by their old fashioned job wheel. It's easy to make. All you need is two paper plates and a brass paper fastener.
More Green Peppers, Please
January 3, 2011
Long ago, when I was a babysitter, I worked for a family that loved green peppers. When the kids wanted a treat, that was their choice. They enjoyed the crunchiness, the color, the taste that was mild enough, but with a bit of snap. I cut up a lot of peppers during that time, and I did some thinking as well. I realized that, because there were no cakes, candies, chips, etc. in that house, peppers were the big thrill.
Kitchen Make-Over
December 27, 2010
My friend Andrea is doing over her kitchen big-time. After decades with zero counter space, and appliances that sort of work, some of the time, she is going all out. The old pantry and cramped kitchen will soon be history. In their place will be work stations: One person can be washing vegetables from the garden while another one bakes, and a third oversees the food that is coming and going.
That In-Between Time
December 20, 2010
My nephew Jesse has just gotten engaged. (Congratulations Jess!) He and his fiancee are enjoying this period in their lives, and what they call Supper Club (hold the "the.") One weekend, they emailed some friends to find out who was free for dinner. The four couples had such a great time that a new institution was born.
Warming Up Winter in Vermont
December 13, 2010
It began years ago, when a man would sell fresh fish off the back of his truck on summer Friday afternoons. This was in my friend Terri's small Vermont town. Several friends who bought the fish would end up in one or another's backyards where they would each cook their fish over the barbeque. For reasons lost in the mists of time, these events became known as fish fries.
Watching the Warm Dough Rise
December 6, 2010
When my friend Alice was growing up in a Hungarian-American community, her mother had the biggest kitchen, so, at holiday time, it became kolatch central. Aunts and grandmothers would gather to produce this delectable yeast-risen pastry with a fruit filling.
Wasting As Much As We Eat
November 29, 2010
Here are some numbers that are way too big: According to a recent federally-sponsored report, Americans waste about 1,400 calories per person per day. Food waste accounts for more than one quarter of our consumption of fresh water, and 300 million barrels of oil per year. Our per capita food waste has risen by half since 1974.
How Thanksgiving Sounds
November 22, 2010
Recently, my cousin Rob found a tape recording of a family Thanksgiving from half a century ago.
Kids Who Really Really Could Use Family Meals
November 15, 2010
My niece Maya has landed her first job, as a school nurse in an inner-city district mired in poverty. She ticks off the problems faced by her elementary and middle school charges — soaring rates of asthma and diabetes, as well as poor nutrition and splintered families.
The Good Things We Ate in Our Childhood
November 8, 2010
How do we know what is good to eat? By watching our families enjoying their favorite dishes. There is a saying attributed to the Chinese writer Lin Yutang; "What is patriotism but the love of the good things we ate in our childhood?"
One Family's Balancing Act
November 1, 2010
You could certainly call Melissa a high achiever. She had two children by the time she finished medical school, while her husband was enjoying an active architectural career. But all through their child-rearing years, this couple thoroughly enjoyed their family meals.
At the Orphanage
October 25, 2010
My friend Barbara teaches Spanish to middle schoolers. When she takes them with her to work at an orphanage in Honduras, they learn more than language.
Optional Equipment
October 18, 2010
When the food critic for the New York Times published a photo of his kitchen, readers registered shock. They were insulted on his behalf. It was so small! It lacked a kitchen island, a second oven, a battery of name-brand appliances. How could he possibly turn out a weekly recipe, as well as write best-selling cookbooks?
A Really Good Neighbor
October 11, 2010
When my friend Lauren noticed that her neighbor, an elderly man with no immediate family, seemed to be declining, she offered to do his grocery shopping. It was then she realized that Mike was eating only oatmeal, toast, and ice cream. She arranged for Meals on Wheels to deliver his lunch, and she began inviting him over for supper. She was cooking for her family anyway.
Together Time Long Ago
October 4, 2010
Now that I give all kinds of mealtime advice, it's funny to think about my own family's dinners when I was growing up.
Anything with an On-Off Switch
September 27, 2010
It had to happen. After years of fretting about children who want to tune out of family meals with their video games, tv shows, etc., we have begun to notice that, oftentimes, it is the grown ups whose attention is wandering.
Cultural Exchange
September 20, 2010
My friend Kris is a single mom. For awhile, when she and her daughter lived in a large house, she hosted foreign students studying English at a nearby college. One year they had four young women: one each from Norway, Korea, Japan and Brazil.
Tomato Feast
September 13, 2010
Sometimes I wish that I lived in my friend Barbara's condo complex. For the past few years, five or six families have shared a tomato garden. As you can imagine, it's huge, with all different varieties. They share the work and the harvest. They have also begun getting together at the garden on Sunday evenings.
Family Day — Celebrating Ten Years
September 6, 2010
Here is my own then-and-now:
Food is Who We Are
August 30, 2010
I couldn't resist this poem by the Armenian-American poet Gregory Djanikian. It's about how iconic ethnic foods form a delicious link to our families and our heritage.
Sharing Harvest Bounty
August 23, 2010
My friend Kate is part of a CSA. That is not a spy ring; it stands for Community Sponsored Agriculture. At the beginning of the growing season, she signs up for a share, which means that, come summer, she can go to a nearby farm every Monday and pick up her weekly allotment of fresh veggies.
A Living Centerpiece
August 16, 2010
When my friend Amy found two caterpillars eating her carrot plants, she asked her school-age kids if they could find out what kind of butterflies they would turn into. Five minutes later, the kids' internet search identified them as black swallowtails. They found out they are also called parsnip caterpillars, because of their favorite foods. The kids decided to become caterpillar midwives.
Fisherman Share Too
August 9, 2010
Because I live on the coast, I eat a lot of fish. Now I eat even more, thanks to the Gloucester Fishermen's Wives Association fish share program. Modeled on farm shares, people sign up for a season of weekly fresh fish. The fishermen even have several inland pick up points.
Eat and Learn
August 2, 2010
Smart organizers know that, if you want people to show up, it's a good idea to offer them food. (Isn't that one of the cornerstones of family meals?)
Family Dinner Parties
July 26, 2010
Now that my son and his wife have a toddler and a baby, they have discovered the pleasures of family dinner parties. At these events, on weekends or holidays, they get together with other parents of young children for a two-generation social.
Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!
July 19, 2010
My friend Sally has teenagers. It drives her crazy when their speech includes more "you knows" and "likes" and "whatevers" than working words. Asking them politely to improve their conversational style wasn't having the slightest effect, so Sally decided she had to try another tactic.
Everybody wants to see the twins
July 12, 2010
Joelle is raising her family in the small town where she grew up. Her sister, however, moved far away. So, when her sister came for a week's visit, bringing her husband, her new twin boys, and her toddler daughter, Joelle's house became Twin Central.
A Place at the Table
July 5, 2010
It's an expression we use to mean that someone is part of the conversation, part of the group. Everyone understands it. The image is clear. Politicians like it because it implies being a stakeholder, having a role.
Have Recipes, Will Travel
June 28, 2010
If you invite Milford and Terri to your house for a weekend, odds are they will bring a few recipes along, and maybe even a few special ingredients.
Team Supper
June 21, 2010
Now that Karen's son is on the high school tennis team, she is getting ready to host a team supper. She did it last year, with the help of a few other team moms.
Life – One Meal At A Time
June 14, 2010
When reporter Paula Butturini's husband descended into a deep depression, sometimes it seemed that the only thing that kept the couple anchored were the three meals she prepared for them each day.
Eating in the Great Outdoors
June 7, 2010
When I was growing up in New York City, we had a car that my father used for work. Generally, if we wanted to get somewhere, we took the bus or the subway.
Empty Bowl, Full Heart
May 31, 2010
It's almost time for our Empty Bowl dinner. The community gets together for a meal of soup, bread, cookie, and drink. The modest menu reminds us that there are people in our area who don't have enough good food. The proceeds support a summer lunch program for kids, and free farmers markets at public housing sites.
Time Well Spent
May 24, 2010
I have decided to give it a medical name: family-induced meal paralysis. Symptoms: everyone stands around saying, Where should we eat? Which place do you like better? What will you have if we go there?
Dog At The Table
May 17, 2010
My friend Cindy's beloved dog died suddenly. One of the things that the family misses most is the reliable presence of Griffin at the dinner table.
Batting Averages
May 10, 2010
My friend Sarah's kids are just getting old enough to have scheduling issues. Her ninth grader is serious about tennis; her fourth grader is big into karate.
Growing Up In The Kitchen
May 3, 2010
Here is how I learned to cook: I went shopping with my mother — to Joe the butcher and Sam the grocer, where we discussed our dinner plans.
Frozen Food
April 19, 2010
What is the largest meal you can imagine? How would you feed a crowd of thousands? Is sharing a meal part of bonding, part of any big event?
New Numbers, Old Truths
April 12, 2010
Here are a few figures that I hope will get your attention. New studies continue to show links between family meals and lower rates of childhood obesity.
Katlyn's New Home
April 05, 2010
When Katlyn and her husband moved to Vermont recently for graduate school, they discovered the potluck party.
Warming Soup
March 29, 2010
I spent the winter deep in soup discussions with my cousin Judy, who lives two thousand miles away.
Book Club Deluxe
March 22, 2010
Over the years, the meetings of my friend Jessica’s book club have evolved in a direction that may not be typical, but that certainly sounds enjoyable.
Mini-meals
March 15, 2010
The benefits of family meals extend to people of all sizes. Teachers at pre-schools and day cares are being advised to set up snacks and meals “family style.”
Those old stand-bys
March 8, 2010
Although I admit to a bias against chain letters, one that arrived recently broke through my prejudices.
Who is the Grown Up
March 1, 2010
Recently, I was giving a talk about family meals. At question time, one woman asked how to rid the dinner table of cell phones and other communications devices.
Even in Australia
February 22, 2010
A team of public health researchers in Brisbane, Australia, studied 3,800 women with 14-year-old children.
Teens read, cook and eat
February 15, 2010
If you’re looking to engage your teenager in family meals, check out the new teen cookbooks.
Swede for a Day
February 8, 2010
When I saw a poster for a Swedish supper to benefit a beloved idiosyncratic local movie theater, I signed up for my family. The price was right, and, after the dinner, the theater would be running a movie that had been shot right in town.
Getting Better
February 1, 2010
Here is what I learned when I was stuck at home recovering from minor surgery: I am lucky to have family and friends who want to help.
Eating locally together
January 25, 2010
When Liv got interested in eating locally, she thought it would be fun to make that idea the center of a monthly pot luck dinner party.
Marty's Senior Meals
January 18, 2010
My uncle Marty is old and frail. A big part of why he can stay in his apartment is the daily lunch at the local senior center.
What the Researchers Found
January 11, 2010
Last week I talked about the habits of the nutritionists involved in Project EAT, at the University of Minnesota.
The Researchers In Their Native Habitat
January 4, 2010
At the University of Minnesota, for more than a decade, nutritionists at Project EAT have been studying the benefits of family meals.
Gina Changes Her Mind
December 28, 2009
When my friend Gina was young, family meals featured arguing and fighting. Once she was on her own, she decided it was better to eat quickly, by herself.
A Brit Looks to Help the US Shape Up
December 21, 2009
British food guru Jamie Oliver is taking on the U.S.; or one small piece of it anyway.
Quick! Find a New Diner!
December 14, 2009
I am now one of the few who remember the pre-diner years, when there was nothing but farmland.
Salad Days
December 7, 2009
My friend Roz is a teacher. And teachers, she says, never get to eat lunch.
Welcome, Baby Audrey!
November 30, 2009
To celebrate Audrey’s first year, her parents put together an event in a city park.
Who Exactly Is Rich?
November 23, 2009
UNICEF recently studied child well-being in what it calls rich countries.
Food and Friends
November 16, 2009
I have dear friends who have serious food issues. One of my close, long-term friends has made a lifelong tour of the outer edges of eating behaviors...
Cook More, Weigh Less
November 9, 2009
What happens when Harvard economists crunch decades worth of numbers to try to understand how Americans have gained so much weight?
Meals Help Make A Home
November 2, 2009
My daughter works at a shelter for homeless teenagers who stay for up to two months. The staff makes it a point to cook meals for the kids.
The Dining Room Table
October 26, 2009
We had a small flood in our basement. The only thing ruined was the set of five leaves and table pads that belonged to my parents’ old mahogany dining room table.
Mealtime Mirrors
October 19, 2009
Meals are as similar, and as different, as the families that eat them. Sometimes you can see those differences in black and white.
Restaurant Families
October 12, 2009
Professional food people need to eat too. Restaurant owners and managers know that food sustains us, that good food makes us feel better about life.
Business Dinner
October 05, 2009
My husband is fortunate. After a dozen years in business, he and his two partners still get along well. But, a couple of years ago, they noticed that their weekly partners’ meetings were getting more rushed and formalized.
My House Doesn’t Measure Up
September 28, 2009
My house doesn’t measure up, and I bet yours doesn’t either. Whose place looks like a magazine spread?
Good for Grown-Ups Too
September 21, 2009
Newsflash! Family meals benefit adults too. This piece of information comes from a recent study of 1,500 people who work for IBM.
What’s the Right Number?
September 14, 2009
I am often asked what to do if one family member can’t make it home for a family meal. If everyone isn’t there, is it still worth eating together?
What's Old and What's New
September 7, 2009
Have you heard about the chic new bar food? Sliders are mini-hamburgers, often using different kinds of chopped meat, presented in a series on a long narrow dish.
Farm Share
August 31, 2009
Right about now, people who signed up for farm shares are gloating – and eating very well.
Your Choices Count
August 24, 2009
If you are the person in your family most likely to buy the food, prepare the meals, and pack the lunches, you have not only a job...you have a title.
Executive Privilege
August 17, 2009
What would you do if you were president of the United States, one of the most powerful people in the world?
Several Good Recipes
August 10, 2009
With her daughter heading off to college, my friend Beth was remembering her own college days.
Oh the Shame of It All
August 03, 2009
My wonderful 2 ½-year-old granddaughter is wrapping up her year in day care.
Three Days on One Chicken
July 27, 2009
It began when a fast food company issued a challenge. They asserted that only they, and not you, could produce a meal for a family of four for $10.00.
Susan’s new job
July 20, 2009
My sister-in-law began a new job this past year, teaching at a school of nursing.
Supper’s Ready!
July 13, 2009
My sister recently retired from a demanding but satisfying job. Unsure of what her next step would be, she found herself at loose ends, living alone, and not liking it.
Summer Job
July 7, 2009
My nephew has a job at his college for the summer. He, and the other student workers, have been given rooms in a dorm.
It doesn’t cost extra
Jun 29, 2009
A recent study looked at low-income families in terms of their strengths, not just their deficits. Researchers analyzed data for more than 100,000 families from the National Survey of Children’s Health.
New baby, new meal
Jun 22, 2009
Grandchild number two arrived recently. So I, as grandma, arrived to help out. I spent time with the two-year-old while mom and baby bonded in the hospital.
Just say dinner
Jun 15, 2009
When we provide our kids with consistent, dependable schedules and expectations, we make their lives easier.
Eat Together, Go Green
Jun 8, 2009
Kids are excited by environmental initiatives. Involve them in the greening of your meals.
Take A Class, Cook A Meal
Jun 1, 2009
Now that the economy has nudged us back into the kitchen, we may be less than thrilled with our skills or our repertoires. Luckily, cooking classes are as varied, and as available, as dinner itself.
Adult Ed programs and County Extension Services offer free or low-cost classes on basics and beyond. Typical offerings include: healthy eating, quick cooking, cooking for older adults living alone, cooking for couples.
Dinner After Divorce
May 25, 2009
When my friend Ricky got divorced some years ago, her husband moved out of the house but stayed in town. Their older child was off at school, but their eighth grader was still at home. Two or three nights a week the dad came over, and the three of them ate dinner together.
Congratulations Are In Order
May 18, 2009
My daughter is getting married this summer. We like him, we like her, we are happy. My friend Eve, who has known Mirka since she was five, hosted a shower. It was a brunch, and the theme was the kitchen.
These Kids ARE Cooking
May 11, 2009
Recently I had the pleasure of judging the Jif? Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest?. The kids were so adorable! One little girl, from Mississippi, was asked if she was enjoying her stay in New York. She floored us when she answered, “I surely am, ma’am.”
Mother’s Day
May 4, 2009
I have a special relationship with this holiday: my first child was born on Mother’s Day. So, through the years, we have periodically shared this day.
You Still Have To Eat
April 27, 2009
Recently, there was a death in our community. It wasn’t unexpected; it wasn’t tragic. But still….
Right away, the community closed ranks around the family. And what was one of the first things we provided? Meals.
Spring Holidays
April 13, 2009
Did you know......It takes twenty minutes for our bodies to register when we are full.
Spaghetti Supper
March 30, 2009
In our town, the elementary school has been holding an annual Spaghetti Supper forever, or close to it. My friend Jessica has been the coordinator for the past six of those forever years. Shes got it down to a simple system.
A Scientific Family Get-Together
March 23, 2009
At a recent back yard meal, a group of scientists that I know was celebrating several birthdays and anniversaries. For some, it was the kind of birthday that ends in a zero. Others were marking the number of years since they had arrived in the United States to do research and, eventually, to settle down.
Roomie Dinner Night
March 16, 2009
When my son Eli was a student on a tight budget sharing an apartment, Tuesday was Roomie Dinner Night.
Kiss Me! Im (almost) Irish.
March 9, 2009
Did you know? Children who eat family dinners are more
likely to stay in touch with their families' ethnic and national backgrounds.
It Takes a Neighborhood
March 2, 2009
It was almost twenty years ago that Gail Jara, who was living alone in Oakland, California, thought it would be a good idea to have a weekly potluck get together. She told a few friends to come to her house the first Wednesday of the month. No planning, no commitment beyond that.
Marcy Joins Us For Breakfast
February 23, 2009
My father-in-law broke his arm in two places. That is especially bad news, given his age, and the age of my mother-in-law. I was deputized to drop by their condo in Florida to see how they were coping.
Through the Eyes of Your Average Six-Year-Old
February 16, 2009
When I visited my friend Kims first grade class,
I learned what the kids thought about family meals:
The good part is that the food is often better than kids-only meals.
The bad part is that they take too long, and you have to sit still.
Those Big Italian Family Meals
February 9, 2009
Jessica Linquata grew up near me, in a large Italian family that loves to cook. When she moved to New York, in pursuit of an acting career, she found that she missed those extended family meals. She put together a book, originally meant for her two younger sisters, full of family recipes and traditions. She called it Ennnjoyyyy…Don't Forget to Bend Your Elbows.
Kids Cooking: Expert Advice
February 2, 2009
Harriet Worobey, at Rutgers University, directs the only nutritional sciences preschool in the country. And boy, does she have lots of great advice.
In Grandma's Kitchen
January 26, 2009
I have officially rounded the circle.
Want Kids to Eat? Keep Them in the Kitchen!
January 20, 2009
It's one of those, "I could have told them that" concepts.
Researchers at Teachers College at Columbia University
studied 600 kids from kindergarten through sixth grade,
to learn how to convince them to eat more veggies and whole grains.
All the kids got lessons on nutrition but, in addition,
some of them also had cooking workshops.
The Supper Club
January 5, 2009
One recent evening, I was talking with my friend Kate about healthy eating strategies and favorite recipes. When we realized we were both cooking the same meals, we thought: why duplicate our efforts? Let's have a supper club!
New Kids in Town
December 29, 2008
My son, daughter-in-law, and brilliant, gorgeous toddler grandchild have moved to a new city. They're meeting people through work, neighborhood, day care, religious ties. But how to transform acquaintances into friends?
Common Tables
December 22, 2008
What would you do if you wanted to, say, help everyone in the world to get along? If you were Dave Corey, you would invite them to dinner.
How Small Meals Bring Big Holidays Down to Size
December 15, 2008
Sometimes I think December should be renamed Marathon Month. You've got the dash to each event, the eye on the stopwatch, the extreme ups and downs. I find myself thinking about the endurance and pacing necessary to get through the whole course.
May Your Holidays Be Light
December 8, 2008
On Thanksgiving this year I gave up the turkey. I ALWAYS make turkey just the way my mother did. I LOVE having turkey this way. You can guess what it meant to hand over the turkey, the stuffing AND the gravy.
Healing Meals
December 1, 2008
My friend Ellie has a son in his 20s who has spent the past couple of years hospitalized for schizophrenia. When he moved from a secure unit to a "house" on the hospital grounds, Ellie and George began to make dinners for his housemates. (There are ten or twelve altogether.) The two of them would go shopping, and then get to work.
Thanksgiving
November 24, 2008
We will be having Thanksgiving at our house this year. I'm counting the dishes, planning out menus, trying to decide where everyone will sleep.
Cook with Your Kids
November 17, 2008
Wouldn't you know it: now there is even a study that shows that kids who cook are more likely to try a variety of foods. Researchers at Columbia University studied 600 kids from kindergarten to sixth grade. Those who took part in cooking workshops were more likely to eat the foods they had prepared. As one researcher said, "Kids don't usually like radishes, but we found that if kids cut up radishes and put them in the salad, they love the radishes."
Technology Works!
November 10, 2008
I have one friend who swears that she owes her family meals to her slow cooker. Before she leaves for work in the morning, she throws in some cut-up meat and vegetables, sprinkles the mix with a few spices, then leaves for the day. Sometimes she goes vegetarian, with or without beans.
Election Day
November 3, 2008
Every election is important, but this year's contest has dragged many of us from the sidelines. (Did you know that, on average, only 54 percent of eligible U.S. voters find their way to their polling stations? Out of 172 nations, we rank a sorry 139th.)
Fortifying "Spirits" at Halloween...
October 27, 2008
Halloween is the time we let the scary things out. We allow pint-sized ghosts to wander our neighborhoods, demanding bribes of candy. We let the frightened, and frightening, parts of ourselves come out a little bit too.
Innovative Routine
October 20, 2008
Regular family meals help us because they are predictable and reliable. We count on their being part of our daily routine.
Fishing
October 13, 2008
My friend Betsy has been going fishing with her husband as long as they have been married. For most of the time, it was Julian who would fish, and Betsy who would admire the scenery.
Breaking in the New Kitchen
October 6, 2008
My husband and I finally moved into our new house! The first few days, it seemed like we lived in a box factory, but little by little, things got unpacked. I really wanted to invite our friends, Joe and Maggie, over for a meal. They had been so welcoming to us during the renovations. I told them not to expect much, but I felt they should have the place of honor as our first guests.
In Sun and Shadow
September 29, 2008
My friends Kate and Andy love to invite people for meals, but they like to do it at the last minute. Less pressure for everyone. Still, it's always surprising what a nice meal, and how many guests, they manage to come up with on short notice.
Saved by the Book
September 22, 2008
My friend Jeanne had her granddaughters for two weeks while their parents went on vacation. She adores the girls, and their parents, but she found that the kids' table manners got on her nerves. They squirmed, purposely fell off their chairs, played with their food. Worse, Jeanne knew many kids the same ages who behaved a lot better.
Family Day Stopped Me in my Tracks
September 15, 2008
Several years ago, browsing through a library that specializes in food, I came upon the information from CASA, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, describing the importance of family meals in keeping kids away from destructive behaviors. It made intuitive sense, but it was news to me.
Young Adults: What Feels Like Home
September 8, 2008
I've known Julia since she was five. Now she's a twenty-something living in New York City. Every Sunday evening, you will find her at "family dinner," even though her family lives two hundred miles away.
What we can learn from Mexican dogs
September 1, 2008
Did you know…When researchers presented foods to children in a positive, friendly way, the kids came to prefer those foods.
Back to School, Back to the Table
August 25, 2008
Did you know...Kids who eat family suppers regularly get better grades in school.
Up From the Basement
August 18, 2008
Because we are doing major work on our house, my husband and I have moved into our friends' basement for the summer. Their two-room apartment is not legal, so, although there is an area that looks like a kitchen, it is missing a stove.
One Very Nourishing Idea
August 11, 2008
If there were a Nobel Prize for common sense, I would nominate nutritionist Ellyn Satter. After years of helping families sort out eating problems, she came up with a simple way of looking at food issues so they don't become Issues.
Talking Togetherness
August 4, 2008
Okay, so now you're all sitting down together. What do you say, and how does that help define the meal?
Eat Healthy – at home and away
July 28, 2008
Did You Know...Children who eat dinner with their family eat more vegetables and calcium, less junk food.
Fiesta!
July 21, 2008
On a recent summer night, my friends and I made our annual visit to St. Peter's Fiesta. We checked out the games of chance, listened to a couple of stunningly amateurish bands, and did some tremendous people-watching. I also ate my yearly sausage and pepper sandwich, washed down by hand-squeezed lemonade.
Grandma Knows Best?
July 14, 2008
When my friend Marcea has her grandkids at her house, she does what comes naturally to her. She serves supper at more or less the same time every night. She sets out the same food for everyone. She expects the kids (pre-school through elementary school-age) to sit for awhile and talk to whoever is at the table. "This is how it is here," she says, matter-of-factly.
Ritual Time
July 7, 2008
When my kids were squirming toddlers, if you had told me that our nightly episodes of food-mashing were about meaning and ritual, I would have had a hard time keeping a straight face. But a generation and a lot of research later, I'm beginning to understand how that's true.
It's Fourth of July; Let's Eat
June 30, 2008
In small town New England, where I live, July Fourth is the busiest day of the year. At the parade and at the fireworks, you see people you haven't seen in ages.
The Whole World Over
June 23, 2008
Did you ever wonder how your family's food consumption compares with, say, a family in Ecuador or Bhutan? A new book compares what families around the world eat over the course of a week.
Blending food, and families
June 16, 2008
Decades later, my friend Jessica's mouth waters when she remembers her stepmother's cooking. "My mother and my great aunt, who lived with us, were immigrants. They cooked peasant food, and never used a cookbook." But her stepmother read gourmet magazines and introduced Jessica to the extravagant salmon en croute.
A Day for Fathers, and the Rest of the Family As Well
June 9, 2008
Did you know...One in five adults took a trip to attend a family reunion in the last year.
Setting the Tone
June 2, 2008
How would you like your mealtimes to feel – calm, lively, stimulating, relaxed? Just as you set the table, you can set the tone. If you want your boisterous kids to bring it down a notch, begin with a moment of quiet. If your goal is to help your shy one join in, make sure to give her uninterrupted time.
Please Please Please
May 27, 2008
Do you spend half your mealtimes trying to "civilize" your wild kids? Don't worry; this has been going on for centuries.
The Age for Learning Kitchen Skills?
May 19, 2008
I am trying to remember how old I was when my mother first phoned us from work, said she was running late, and asked my sister and me to get our father's dinner on the table so he could make his evening office hours. I am guessing that I was about ten, my sister twelve.
Snacks and Meals
May 12, 2008
Did you know? In families that watch tv during meals, kids eat fewer fruits and vegetables. They consume more pizzas, snack foods, and sodas than kids in families who turn off the tv's.
Mothers and Meals
May 5, 2008
I remember being a new mom and ravenously hungry, but unable to eat at the moment because my baby was even hungrier than I. So I sat down and nursed him...and my mother, half as a joke, cobbled together a lunch, took up a spoon, and began to feed me.
What Can a Two-Year-Old Do?
April 28, 2008
Did you know? In the past twenty years, the number of married Americans who report that their family "usually eats dinner together" declined by one third.
Picture Perfect Moments
April 21, 2008
Wandering around the Internet, I have been surprised and touched by what people choose to post on the subject of family meals.
This is What Perfect Looks Like
April 14, 2008
One member of my family can never seem to make it to the table without be called half a dozen times. (We are not naming names here, but he knows who he is.) Another always regards the food on her plate with suspicion, poking a fork into whatever is served, as if looking for worms.
Starving for Time
April 7, 2008
Did You Know? Twenty-one percent of teens rated "not having enough time together with parents" as their top concern.
What Are You Saving the Good Dishes For?
March 31, 2008
Sometimes, on those days when my friend Betsy only has enough energy for take-out Chinese, she gives herself, and her family, a lift, by serving the meal on her mother's "good" dishes — fine china with hand-painted orange chrysanthemums. She tells her kids to be super careful, and they are so impressed that they generally are.
The Family Team
March 24, 2008
Did you know? Over a recent 16-year-period, the amount of time that children spent watching other people (like their siblings) play sports rose five-fold.
Thank the Cook
March 17, 2008
Did you know? Children and teens who eat family dinners eat more fruits and vegetables, and less fried food.
Eat Facing Each Other
March 10, 2008
I have been collecting images of families eating together across many cultures and down through centuries of time. Whether they squat on jungle floors, sit cross-legged on carpets, recline on mats, or sit around open fires, they have one thing in common: they all eat facing each other.
What To Talk About At Mealtimes
March 3, 2008
Did You Know.....Kids bring up an average of six different topics per meal.
Parents and Grandparents Remember
February 25, 2008
Did you know? Foreign-born children are more likely to eat family meals than are native-born children with foreign-born parents. And both those groups eat more meals together than do families in which everyone is native-born.
What Kids Learn at the Table
February 18, 2008
Did You Know...Preschoolers increase their vocabulary by being part of dinner table conversation. This larger vocabulary helps them in school – in kindergarten and beyond.
Order out of Chaos
February 11, 2008
I recently found a photo taken in the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake that leveled the city of San Francisco. The hundred-year-old black and white image shows a burned-out and shattered cityscape.
Food from the Heart
February 4, 2008
When Mr. Rogers used to sing, "There are many ways to say I love you. There's the cooking way to say I care about you," preschoolers and grown ups alike knew just what he meant. So why not make a special family dinner for Valentines Day?
The One Right Way – Not!
January 28, 2008
I'm guessing that, early on in the parenting experience, you had the same realization that I did: No one has all the answers. A large part of it is made up as we go.
The Magic Chair
January 21, 2008
When my first child was little, we splurged on the purchase of an all-purpose chair. It was made out of wood, and came with its own Allen wrench. The maker promised that we could reconfigure it over and over again. It could hold anyone from a six-month-old to a small adult. We were skeptical, but we needed somewhere to put the baby.
Family For A Day
January 14, 2008
Okay, so I am that old. I remember when our family first got a tv. My mother, being up-to-date, set places for the kids at the coffee table, where we sat on the floor and ate while, in the days of only three stations, we watched Queen for a Day. My father, who could hear the show from the dining room, kept up a running critique of what he called the sob stories. (Women, often in tears, would tell the sad tales of their lives. The audience applauded; the winner went home with a washer or a refrigerator.)
TV or not TV?
January 7, 2008
Did you know? A study at Baylor Medical College found that kids who are overweight were more than twice as likely as normal-weight kids to eat supper in front of the TV.
Mark Your Calendars!
January 2, 2008
Did you know...seventy-eight percent of families say that they have a family dinner at least a few times a week.
A Steady Point in a Swirling World
December 26, 2007
Did You Know...For children who have asthma, if families maintain regular rituals like eating dinner together, kids miss fewer days of school, have fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
Tastes of Tradition
December 17, 2007
At this time of year, when we think about how things have "always" been, one of the most direct ways to access that elusive "always" is by making and serving traditional foods.
Ritual Time
December 10, 2007
Did You Know....A review of 50 years of research about families concluded that rituals, "convey 'this is who we are' as a group and provide continuity in meaning across generations." Social scientists view rituals as routines with symbolic meaning; not to be confused with religious rituals.
Teenagers Benefit from Regular Family Meals
December 3, 2007
Did You Know...Only a third of kids in grades 11 and 12 have dinner with their families on a regular basis? Yet study after study shows that teenagers benefit from regular family meals.
What's Left Over During Holiday Times
November 27, 2007
After the holiday meal, I have a hard time throwing out that turkey carcass. I find a big pot, throw in a bunch of left-over vegetables, and produce turkey soup. My friend, Patricia, uses the ham bone from her Christmas open house to make split pea soup. It's good to have something simple and warm to get the family through the hectic holiday season.
Eating and Order
November 21, 2007
Did you know that girls who eat one or two family meals a week are more than twice as likely to have disordered eating as girls who eat three to four family meals a week?
Try It, You'll Like It
November 1, 2007
Did you know it can take eight to ten times for a child to try a new food before deciding she likes it? Scientists think our suspicions of new tastes come from the time when our ancestors roamed the jungles and plains, trying out unfamiliar species.
Welcome to Our Table
October 25, 2007
At my table, the placemats barely cover the stains made by years of homework assignments, sewing projects, mailings for causes Im sure were important at the time. Sometimes family life is shiny and smooth. But from day to day, we are more likely to notice the scratches, the bumps.