When I was a kid, the oldest child of five, family dinner time together was not an option. We ate meals together, period. We helped cook, we helped set the table, and we definitely helped clean up the kitchen afterwards.
Now that I am a mom with 5 kids of my own, I’ve maintained my mom and dad’s view on family meal time. We eat together, period. Granted, there are nights every now and then when we have to split the family up during dinner time, but nights when we don’t eat dinner together are the exception, and definitely not the rule.
Why are family dinners so important?
- Eating together builds and strengthens family relationships.
- Eating a dinner at home is more economical and almost always a more healthy option.
- Sitting together at the dinner table reminds children that they are part of a loving family.
- Family dinner time provides a daily block of time where there are no other distractions – no phones, no computers, no TV. It’s a time to just be us, and be together.
Although we usually cook dinner at home, some nights are too busy for a full home-cooked meal, but eating together is still important. So we have a few stand-by alternatives. Sometimes we grab a pizza, sometimes we call “free for all” and everyone grabs whatever they can find in the fridge or freezer. Last week, though, we tried something SO much better.
We ordered Carrabba’sto-go last Tuesday night. We had just spent the last 3 full days inside, not knowing what Hurricane Sandy was going to dump on us, and although I had been baking a bunch while we played the waiting game, on Tuesday I wasn’t in the mood for cooking. It was easy to order our food:
- Mezzaluna Carrabba – Delicate half moon ravioli stuffed with chicken, ricotta cheese and spinach, tossed with grilled chicken, sauteed mushrooms and peas served in our alfredo sauce.
- Sirloin – USDA Choice center-cut sirloin topped with mushrooms, prosciutto and Lombardo Marsala wine sauce and cavatappi amatriciana.
- Pasta Carrabba – Fettuccine alfredo with grilled chicken, sauteed mushrooms and peas.
- Chicken Parmesan Panini – Coated with our Italian breadcrumbs, sauteed and topped with pomodoro and mozzarella, served on baked focaccia.
In addition, three of the meals came with soup, so we ordered one of each: Lentil & Sausage, Minestrone, and Mama Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken.
The dinner was a huge hit (to say the least) and after all 7 of us had eaten our fill, we actually had leftovers – enough for KitKat to have a really enjoyable lunch on Wednesday. Sigh….I was hoping to have the leftovers myself, but she grabbed them early in the morning.
At least we have next time….
Dinner with my family is one of the most important parts of our day. Whether you are dinning in or ordering online to-go, Carrabba’s helps bring your family together during the week.
Tell me why you think family dinner is a priority and one of my readers will win a $25 gift card to enjoy at Carrabba’s!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Carrabbas. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.
© 2012 – 2013, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
I agree with Kelly. It’s a time to slow down and really enjoy each others’ company.
Family dinner is essential, especially in a house as big and active as ours. We need the time to reconnect, to talk, to tell stories, to find out what is going on in each other’s lives.