In this episode, we share some stories of our recent move, the importance of family dinner, talk about Ric Flair, and read an awesome poem about noodles by one of our viewers. Give us feedback by leaving a comment below (or in the video itself — just click the little plus sign in the player.)
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Weekly Poll
Growing up, how often did your whole family eat together for dinner?
- Always (65%, 44 Votes)
- Most of the time (31%, 21 Votes)
- Almost never (6%, 4 Votes)
Total Voters: 68
Loading ...Weekly Giveaway
This week we’re giving away Air Fork One from the Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand. To enter, just leave a comment sharing a favorite family tradition around the dinner table from your childhood. The winner will be announced during next week’s show.
K & J,
Guys, guys, guys. Let me splain somfin to ya. During harvest, usually 5-8 weeks in the summer time, not only did my grandmother make a pie everyday for lunch (and sometimes dinner), but she created a full spread for all three meals. If we ended up working past 6 or 7 she would whip up an evening snack for us. Now, this would be a daunting task to feed 5 or 6 people but our harvest crew typically ranged from 12 to 18 people so you can imagine the amount of food that was bought, prepared, and consumed.
My grandmother passed away in 1997 and we sure do miss those awesome meals but she left us with great memories and a legacy of unmatched recipes.
Oh yeah, we ate all these meals together: breakfast lunch, and dinner. If someone doesn’t think it is important or underestimates its impact on someone years later, send them my way and I will school them.
Later guys,
Cubby
p.s. flying upside down is really fun ;)
Hey, Kim, Jason, and Lucy,
We had lots of family dinners on the farm where I grew up, but since my dad, brothers and sometimes my mom worked in the field till dark, we usually ate VERY late. When I was old enough to learn to cook (about 10) my mom assigned to me the task of making dinner so it would be ready when they came in. My mom would write out the menu and I would put it all together. One time she ended the menu with “sweet potatoes and spinach salad”–not putting a comma between them. Although I thought it sounded strange, I put the fresh spinach in the salad bowl, opened a can of yams, and dumped the whole chunky mess on top of the spinach. Needless to say, no one ate the spinach OR the sweet potatoes that night!
I found this good article – 10 reasons to have family meals – which also cites the NASA study and more
http://www.naturalfamilyrecipes.com/blog/10-reasons-to-have-family-meals-more-often
The most interesting point in the article I thought was….
“It may come as a surprise, but among Moms who work outside the home, those who have family mealtimes reported feeling less stress than those who had family dinners less often. (Source: Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal)”
growing up we always had dinner at the table – I’m so surprised when I meet families that don’t do this at least 4x/week. Yes everyone is busy, but too busy to connect once a day with the ones you love? seems crazy.
Do our comments have to be pithy? I like pith helmets. They’re cool. I grew up as a missionary kid, so I wore them all the time while chopping through the jungle with my machete, scaring away all the fierce jungle cats and making friends with the macaws, toucans and natives. OK, I didn’t, but that seems to the be the stereotype, and it amuses me. :-) I did grow up as a missionary kid, but we did not wear pith helmets or use machetes in the crowded smoggy traffic-ridden city.
What? You said pithy!
I can’t think of any unusual traditions we had at the table, but we did have some great candlelight dinners when the electricity was out (and the power outages often lasted several hours)… Also, in the termite mating season, we did our best to keep the termites’ wings, which they enjoyed dropping, out of our food…which was challenging because they were swarming around our light, directly above the table. I’m sure I ate more termite wings than I’d like to think I did…which might explain a lot about me. :-)
We always had dinner as a family, and my dad would always ask the same question Jason’s dad did (How was school?) and we always gave the same answer Jason did (Fine). Eventually, my dad started asking more pointed questions to get us to talk.
I’ve decided I like Cubby’s grandma. My grandma was an awesome cook too, and I miss her…but most of my life we were on opposite sides of the world, so I only got to enjoy her wonderful cooking ever 4 years or so…but she did pass some her talent on to her daughter, and I’ve lived with my mom for a large percentage of my life. :-) Also, my grandpa found a bread recipe from my grandma after she died, and he makes it all the time. It’s the stuff of legends. Our family lives for “Grandpa Bread.” :-) I’m sure the cooking in heaven improved even more when our grandmas moved there (and I’m sure there are no termite wings to add extra protein there).
I just have to pass on this story! My sister is ten years older than me and was married and had my two nieces by the time she was 25! I was thrilled being an aunt age 10 and then again at 15! I was like a nanny to my nieces and spent a lot of quality time with them!
This included eating many meals with my sister, my
brother-in-law and their girls! One (tradition) they had around the dinner table was more like an Arab one!
Many nights after dinner, they would have a burping
contest! Yes, my sister would frown at this, but my nieces and their dad certainly enjoyed themselves.
Thanks, Cindi