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9 Tips for Food Related Dinner Conversations

by Claire on June 1, 2012

A few weeks ago, the Power of Moms sent me a link to their essay "9 Tips for Dinner Conversations". It is packed full of useful tips (go give it a read to add variety into your dinner conversations). But there seems to be something missing in it.

Where is the talk about the food? It may sound simple, but have you ever really talked about your food at dinner time. With this in mind, here is my list of 9 Tips for Food Related Dinner Conversations:

  1. My favorite way to eat [blank] is: Pick a food you are eating, such as peas. Talk about the different ways you can prepare them, and which way is each person’s favorite.
  2. The history of food: Where were potatoes first grown? How did they become popular in modern culture? Are they still found in the wild, or are they predominantly farmed now?
  3. Family Recipes Handed Down:  What is the history of your recipes? Was this dish handed down from your great grandma who made it during the Depression? 
  4. Food’s role in religion/spirituality: Food plays a central role in many religions. How does it affect your religion and how does it affect other’s religions?
  5. How was dinner made: Talk about how you made your dinner. If your child helped, tell him what a good job he did. Ask what he is most proud of.
  6. Story about this food: Pick a food you are eating, and have everyone at the table come up with a story about that food. Make sure it is a group project, and that no one person make most of the story up.
  7. Where did this come from: Talk about how the food was grown or raised, what it was before it became your dinner, and how far it had to travel.
  8. Food around the world: What kinds of food to people around the world eat? How do they differ from what you are eating? How are they the same?
  9. Dinner planning: What do you want to have for dinner next week? Is it well-balanced? Is it in budget?

To borrow from the Power of Moms, would you rather talk about your food or historical events during dinner?

Permalink | Comments (16)

Comments (16) -

Hezzi-D
6/2/2012 1:32:53 PM #

I only ever talk about the food we're eating but my brother and I are both foodies so I can't wait to bring up some of these questions the next times he stops over for dinner!  We often have dinner parties as well and these would be interesting "food" topics to talk about.  Thanks for the ideas!

Reply

Claire
6/2/2012 2:16:52 PM #

Thanks Hezzi-D,

I think there are allot of great things to talk about at dinner that aren't food related, but why pass up a great opportunity to talk about one of my favorite things in life? I hope you and your brother have wonderful food conversations around the dinner table!

Thanks,
Claire

Reply

Kimberly@Five Little Chefs
6/2/2012 2:31:27 PM #

We always talk about who made the food and the process it took and the ingredients. We talk about what is for dinner the next night and who is making it. If we have unfamiliar ingredients we talk about where they came from. Its amazing what you can teach your children when they are sitting at the table putting food in their mouths!

Reply

Claire
6/2/2012 3:21:09 PM #

Thanks Kimberly,

Based on your blog, I am not at all surprised you have wonderful conversations about food at the table. The power of the family meal really does amaze me!

Thanks,
Claire

Reply

Ashleigh
6/2/2012 7:16:24 PM #

Great tips!  And I voted for you!

Reply

Claire
6/2/2012 7:48:10 PM #

Thanks Ashleigh,

I hope the tips are useful.

Thanks,
Claire

Reply

Kimberly
6/7/2012 2:20:09 AM #


  I honestly do not have a good relationship with food and I do not even like family meals though I suffer a few a week. It is one of my dark secrets one could say. I do however love information. Maybe if dinner was educational I might enjoy it more and over come the childhood trauma of family dinner! I am going to try some of these this weekend! Thank you!

Reply

Claire
6/7/2012 8:39:46 PM #

Thanks Kimberly,

Isn't it interesting how things stay with us from when we are a child? It is wonderful you are doing family dinners for your children. I hope I can help  make them more enjoyable for you, and help to improve your relationship with food.

Thanks for sharing,
Claire

Reply

FamilyTravelsonaBudget
6/7/2012 5:00:28 AM #

Our foodie family talks food all the time, even not at the dinner table! Smile We also eat cuisine inspired by our travels around the globe. My favorite addition to our dinnertime conversation would be #6: Make up a story about your food. Smile I see even more hilarious conversation in our future (and an opportunity to sneak vocabulary word review into conversation!!!)

Reply

Claire
6/7/2012 8:41:12 PM #

It sounds like you have a wonderful time with dinner already! I would love to listen into your conversations, and maybe learn some new vocabulary words Smile

Thanks,
Claire

Reply

Michelle
6/7/2012 6:58:41 AM #

We don't usually talk about the food, we talk about other things.  Sometimes we play 20 questions or I spy.  My daughter does help me make the food, though!

Reply

Claire
6/7/2012 8:43:26 PM #

There are so many things you can talk about at dinner, all that add fun and enrichment into your lives. My family talks about more than just food, though I am a bit of a foodie, so probably talk about it more than some.

Thanks,
Claire

Reply

Anne | Living Life Smarter
6/7/2012 11:52:37 AM #

I think I prefer talking about food than historical events.

Reply

Claire
6/7/2012 8:44:30 PM #

Thanks Anne,

I agree with you. That said, my husband loves history so that makes it into our dinner conversations as well.

Thanks,
Claire

Reply

Kimberly@Five Little Chefs
6/8/2012 12:23:07 PM #

Dinner conversation is cruical. At my house it is a time when everyone is busy eating so you can tell them whatever you want and they at least halfway listen! Because my blog is about kids cooking one of my Little Chefs is always telling everyone else how it was made and what the ingredients are. They all have learned so much just through this conversation. Great ideas!

Reply

Claire
6/8/2012 9:14:33 PM #

Thanks Kimberly,

I love your blog! It is great that your children cook and then talk about their food. I also agree with the role dinner conversation plays. There is so much bonding, learning, and fun to be had.

Thanks,
Claire

Reply

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