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Success Stories: Eating Together

by Claire on May 18, 2012

Share your success stories, bug and little, and expire others to follow your lead. From time to time, I will feature a Success Story in a post, encouraging people to come here for more success stories.

Note: I am working on a way to allow you to upload pictures. If you leave a comment below, I will let you know when this is up and ready for you.

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Comments (11) -

Claire
5/18/2012 10:00:10 PM #

Samantha will be one on Sunday. Our family have been eating together with no distractions for two weeks. Last Thursday, we had a monthly club meeting for a club we belong to. It is held at a local Alfy's Pizza.

Since we knew dinner was going to be late, we gave Samantha a small snack before setting out. We ordered a pizza, I grabbed a salad, and we found a table. I set up Samantha's area, saved a bit of salad for Samantha and ate my salad as Samantha and Mike (my husband) socialized with other club members. Samantha seemed to know I was eating, but was okay with it. After my salad, I socialized as well.

The pizza came, everything was ready. I said "oh, we are ready to eat", moving to my seat. Mike was already in his seat. Samantha walked over to her chair with boaster and asked me to put her in it. We did not have to go get her, she came to us! Having had a snack, Samantha did not eat much, but she was there, ready to spend the family meal with us, even in the confusion of a club meeting.

I felt so happy. Samantha is not even one yet, and she wants to take part in the family meal!

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Sam
5/19/2012 6:22:38 AM #

Me and Lilly eat nearly all our meals together at the table. She will usually come into the dining room when called, right up to her chair with booster seat. Even if she decides she is not hungry and won't eat anything I make her sit at the table with me while I eat. She still isn't feeding herself, unless its finger food, so we tend to do a spoon for Lilly then two spoons for mummy while she chews.

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Claire
5/19/2012 12:05:15 PM #

Hi Sam,

It sounds like you have a good system with Lily of 1 spoon for Lily and 2 spoons for mummy. You get to eat as well that way, which can be difficult.

Thanks for sharing your success story!

Claire

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willow
5/21/2012 9:20:18 AM #

this activity will be a breeze for us because this is the one thing we do really well.  we always sit down together for dinner no exceptions.  no tv, no radio, no distractions it is family time to eat relax and enjoy each other.  i also watch my friends three kids(the smallest being twins that are 13month) and this is not only for dinner but breakfast and lunch too.  Thus our table is the heart of our home, used also for homework,crafting and entertaining.  This teaches so much to our children not only about good eating habits but time management,speaking, manners, respect, and love.  nothing better then seeing the table full of children eating, smiling and thanking you for the great food!!

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Claire
5/21/2012 8:10:34 PM #

Thanks Willow,

It sounds like you have a good system going. It really shows, once you get in the habit of eating together, you realize the rewards are so great that healthy eating is just a small part of it.

Thanks,
Claire

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Anne @ GreenEggs&Moms
5/31/2012 9:07:04 AM #

I think it's great when families eat together Smile I'm failing at that now because my life revolves around work but I will have to get the family to eat meals together.

Reply

Claire
5/31/2012 8:28:09 PM #

Hi Anne,

I understand how work can make this harder. I get home at 6pm, which is the time I would like to be serving dinner, not making it. To me, it is all about the reward, and that makes it worth while. The first four weeks of the challenge look at ways to make the family meal work for you.

Thanks,
Claire

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willow
6/1/2012 8:47:06 AM #

one thing that really helps us to still eat good and all at same time is to plan out my dinner ahead of time.  i find that if i shop for specific things and have a plan then i can make a dinner every night that works for our schedule.  so if we have a late baseball game on Tuesday then i know that would be a great night to make spaghetti cause its fast, we eat before the game even though its early then when we get home everyone has a snack

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Claire
6/1/2012 1:43:09 PM #

Thanks Willow,

That is a great tip!

Thanks,
Claire

Reply

Rob Leonardo
9/6/2012 7:16:17 AM #

As a child, I learned to eat with my family during meals when at home.  When I started my family, it was not quite like that because my baby had a sitter and I  was sometimes to busy at home with the computer and did not bother to eat on time.  Fortunately, when we chaged sitter, my daughter learned to be more 'attached' to us and so would not eat without us.  It was a great experience because I had more time with my daughter.  On Saturdays, eating was a special activity to spend time with her.  In fact most of the time on weekends we're together!

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Claire
9/9/2012 8:14:54 PM #

That's great Rob. It sounds like your daughter knew what she wanted - you.

Reply

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