How often do you eat meals as a family?

Just curious -- My neighbor and I were talking about how the kids' schedules are crazy right now. I don't even have my 3 DCs in any evening activities yet because I don't know how to fit it into our evening routines -- eating meals as a family is extremely important to us. She said they don't even eat together on the weekends - big contrast to our house because we eat dinner together every night unless DH has a work function or he and I are out on date night (not that often) plus we also try to eat breakfast together every morning.

Message edited 5/1/2014 9:47:54 AM.

How often do you eat meals as a family?

DS and I eat breakfast together every day, all 3 of eat dinner together most nights.

Re: How often do you eat meals as a family?

We don't eat breakfast. Totally wasted on me. She eats something like tortillas.

Then at school we'll sit with her for a bit while she eats breakfast there or drinks juice.

Lunch obviously not, she's at school. Ironically my Uncle (with or without my Aunt) will visit her 2 or 3 times a week for lunch. He works for the same School District.

Dinner. Yes, she eats twice. She is starving when she gets home so we will feed her dinner if we can (not always since sometimes homework gets in the way or bath). Then if she's eaten she'll sit with us and snack while we eat our dinner. Or if her dinner is ready at the same time we'll all eat together.

Weekends she's usually out at my Aunts and we only eat once a day in our home on weekends. So family meal would be like once.

I answered 1-6 only because I think you meant family meal is where we all sit together and eat together - all of us.

There are times its just me or him with her. Me working late, him maybe, me travelling, etc. Other times she won't snack with us and she'll be doing her homework or relaxing while we eat. And with her being at my aunt's she's not 'with' us.

Re: How often do you eat meals as a family?

We eat dinner together every day, weekend breakfasts, and some weekend lunches too.

Message edited 5/1/2014 2:39:20 PM.

Re: How often do you eat meals as a family?

Dinner together every night then breakfast, lunch and dinder together on sundays. It's a must for me.

Re: How often do you eat meals as a family?

I have 3 kids, 2 in activities for now and I feel that dinner time together is important. My DH works on the later side more nights so if he will be home at say 8pm, then the kids will eat together and I will eat with him. We eat breakfast together every morning.

The kids always eat breakfast and dinner together. Then on the weekends it all three meals, actually we will all eat together on the weekends.

I don't get not eating as family either. It's more important to me that my kids are fed and in bed by 8:30. That is why I am no rush to put my kids in travel sports. In our township if you get accepted into travel baseball you have to do rec baseball. So that means: 2 practices a week and 4 games a week. On top of CCD. That is for one child.

Re: How often do you eat meals as a family?

It's only me and ds but we eat dinner together every night he is with me. Unless (like tonight) my sitter Feds him (very rare)

But we eat very late because I work and commute.

I refuse (I actually can't) to put him in evening activities, and I don't feel bad about it either

Re: How often do you eat meals as a family?

I think it would help to know what ages kids people have who vote. You could have young kids who are not in activities but eventually might be and things change.

Also I know for many families one parent stays home and the sacrifice is that the other works longer hours/commute so isn't home for dinner.

For me, I often don't have an appetite when my kids eat but either eat or just sit with them while they eat. Right now they are in 1 activity on one week night that's all we can handle.

There is no doubt and lots of evidence on eating dinner together as a very positive thing.

Re: How often do you eat meals as a family?

Message edited 5/2/2014 6:41:24 AM.

Re: How often do you eat meals as a family?

This was our schedule this past fall:

Sunday: DS could have a BB game
Monday: dance for DS and DD (in the same class)
tuesday: CCD for DS and DD
wed: game or practice for DS
thursday: soccer practice for DD
friday: possible game for DS
Saturday: game for DS and DD

There was only 1 night we didn't have activities durning the week but it changed each week.

For the this spring:
Monday: dance again
tuesday: free
wednesday: possible game for DS
thursday: DD soccer practice
friday: possible game for DS
Saturday: DS and DD games
Sunday: possible game for DS

My kids are 3, 7, and 8

On the nights they have games or practices I would feed them dinner before and then when they would come home they could have a snack.
Dance and CCD days we have dinner after since we get home around 6:30.

Re: How often do you eat meals as a family?

When I'm working we eat as a family on Mondays and Tuesdays. Then it's usually me and the kids for dinner Wednesdays because DH golfs. Thursdays I work lays so DH is alone with the kids. Then the weekends we mostly eat dinners together unless there's a function or a date night.

Re: How often do you eat meals as a family?

I have an 8 and 7 year old. During the week we all eat dinner together on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The other days one of them has some activity, so I usually feed them dinner before we leave then DH and I will eat after they go to bed. In the morning, the boys usually sit at the table and eat breakfast while DH walks the dog and I finish getting ready.

On the weekends we definitely eat more meals together as a family, sometimes all three meals on Sat/Sun just depends on what we have going on.

Message edited 5/2/2014 9:32:35 AM.

Re: How often do you eat meals as a family?

DH works nights and leaves in the late afternoon, so only 2x per week

Re: How often do you eat meals as a family?

Posted by MrsDiamondgrlie

DH works nights and leaves in the late afternoon, so only 2x per week

How often do you eat meals as a family?

We are in the never category.
My kids are in so many activities and my husband works till 2 am.
But that is okay.
I love our sideline friends. We pack picnics often. We are at baseball, tennis, soccer, golf, archery most nights. Me and kids love hanging out at night. Once we get home, bath and bed instantly.

Dh works longer or shifts on the weekends.
We try and eat lunch at my son's school once a week together.

Message edited 5/3/2014 8:03:15 AM.

Re: How often do you eat meals as a family?

As kids get older, most times you have less meals together as they are doing their own thing.

Re: How often do you eat meals as a family?

I have 3 children 5th grade, 3rd grade, and 1st grade. Every morning we (me and the kids) eat breakfast together. DH leaves for work early and the kids leave at the same time as I do. The kids eat lunch at school on school days, but if there is no school, we eat lunch together too. Dinner every night we eat together as a family (sometimes DH is not home for this, but me and the kids eat together).

Each of my kids has activities. My oldest son plays on a travel baseball and basketball team. My middle son has boy scouts, baseball, and a club. My youngest has gymnastics and baseball... we are constantly running here, there and everywhere. We are flexible with the times we eat. Sometimes we will eat super early to get to a game or practice, sometimes we will all wait and eat late.

On weekends, we eat breakfast as a family, lunch is usually on the go between games/ practices/activities or we eat at the field (picnic style) and dinner is together wherever we may be. Sometimes we will be at a friends or families house.

Message edited 5/5/2014 4:25:09 PM.