When you make a habit of sitting down at the table together with family and those you care about, it has life-long benefits.
First, you and your family each want to sit up in your chair at the meal table so your food digests easier.
Together, you have the opportunity to discuss the events of the day, share thoughts, learn something about each other that perhaps you didn't know.
That's what family dining is all about. I don't know one woman who wouldn't absolutely love to come home to a nicely set dinner table. Men, too, and children love sharing their day over a nice meal at the table when they feel together as a family. There is no down side to eating at the table.
It's easy to forget how to set a nice table with flatware, glassware, plates, napkins, even a tablecloth and candles -- especially, if when growing up, your family didn't eat at the table very often.
Set the Scene
Take time to create a fun, funny, beautiful or even a theme tablesetting. It just makes the meal so much better.
Whether it's a holiday or a special event like a graduation celebration or birthday party, theme decorations bring smiles and laughter and make dining together so much more appetizing.
There are many no-cost, table decorations, such as using homemade placemats, wrapping paper tablecloths, using your good serving dishes, putting a photo display on the table or floating flowers in a pan, candles in wine glasses, little gifts in a gift box, theme music, and question of the day cards... that make even a simple breakfast, lunch or dinner table feel delightful and memorable. It doesn't need out-of-pocket cash... only your imagination. Set the scene and enjoy eating in an entertaining way.
The Table
When eating food on a table... the "table" can be any number of things from a picnic table or high chair to a more conventional dining table.
We have a kitchen table, a dining room table and (thanks to daughter so thoughtful) we also have TV-tray tables. There's the coffee table that sits in front of the sofa, the folding-leg table that sits on top of our bed, and of course... our lap. I first decide where I want to serve the meal.
How to Set the Table
I like to follow a standard when setting the table. Even though I put my own personal spin on it, it gives me a sense of good to follow the rules. Setting the table loosely refers to the plates, flatware and glassware. But it takes much more depending on the meal.
There's usually one fork, one spoon, and one knife: the fork sits left of the dinner plate, the spoon and dinner knife on the right. The butter knife (if laid for a casual dinner) goes across a separate bread plate. Typically, no more than three plates are laid for a family dinner
Most people today know that when eating, you choose the outer flatware first. The table is set that way, because it jives with what "courses" are served to guests in what order.
How to Arrange the Table
Here's how to arrange the table for one or two, or for the family mob.
Breakfast offers an opportunity to share good times and memories with your honey or with friends and family. Here is what a breakfast and lunch table setting looks like.
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| Breakfast |
Lunch table setting.
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| Lunch or brunch |
For brunch, you can also consider using the informal dinner table setting.
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| Informal dinner place setting |
For dinner.
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| Formal dinner place setting |
Where Does the Napkin Go
For our causal date night, I pretty much always put the napkin under the fork on the left side of the plate. But the napkin can be placed on the plate or to the left of the fork (rather than under it). Many people fold napkins different ways or use a napkin ring.
Napkins are usually square. The following list shows what sized napkins are used for various occasions:
Formal, Multiple Course, Meals - large napkins (22 - 26 inches square);
Buffet Service - medium to large napkins (18 to 24 inches square or 12 x 22 inches);
Informal Dinners - medium napkins (18 to 20 inches square);
Luncheons - smaller napkins (14 to 16 inches square);
Tea - small napkins (12 inches square);
Cocktails - very small napkins (9 inches square, 4 x 6 inches, or 6 x 8 inches).
Napkins can be cloth or paper. We use paper a lot, so I got to thinking about it.
Do you recycle? Paper is the largest component of municipal solid waste in the U.S., filling up more than 40% of our landfills. But last year over half of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling, which means that over 51 million tons of paper is being recovered for recycling each year. Do your part and use recycled paper products when you can.
If you are dedicated to green products and recycling, consider using cloth napkins. They can be washed as opposed to paper napkins that must be recycled [if you remember to put them in the proper bin]. If you do purchase paper napkins, be sure to check that they are recycled without chlorine bleach, dyes, inks or fragrances.
Family Get-Togethers
As the years go by, grown children get busy, and there are many reasons for fewer "whole family" get-togethers. So it is a real good idea for you to make the best picture-perfect memory when you invite family to your home to eat a meal together (everyone has to eat anyway), celebrate a special birthday or commemorate an achievement.
That's when all the get-together's of the past remind everyone of the good times and memories. You want to prepare the food, and make the time together as memorable by setting your table in a special way, even a buffet table can have a colorful tablecloth, some fresh flowers or even a sports decor with pictures of your favorite players on the table. Be creative! Make a memory.With large family gatherings, there may not be room for everyone to sit around one dining room table.
Often, this means that guests get a plate and scoop a portion from a pot on the stove or baking dish resting from the oven on the kitchen counter. Each fills their own plate, and then goes to sit at one of the tables setup for diners. No problem. It's easy and maybe convenient, but sometimes setting up a buffet table for food service is the better choice, especially on a holiday. Yes, eating buffet style makes perfect sense. Here's how to set the table for a family buffet
Eating buffet style at your party or "get together" is really about sharing time with those you have a relationship with.You want to observe the little niceties of life that people expect.
Invitations
It's polite, and a lot of fun to send invitations to dinner.
When it comes to the "niceties" -- it's true that some things change with time. Technology is one change that has an impact on party gatherings for example. Should you send an email or text? Should you send a "save the date" invitation?
Once (okay, maybe twice) I sent an invitation with little sequins that spilled out when the envelope was opened. Not sure my kids appreciated this that much.
Whether reminding the family to be home on time for dinner, or planning a small dinner for family or company, remember to "set the scene." Create a theme for the room or the whole house or on the patio. It just adds so much fun to the time you spend together. Plan the food around the theme including how you are going to serve: For example, will guests sit at the table and be served each course; or will you opt for family or buffet style.
Keep in mind that things happen. People who plan to come, cancel at the last minute. This is disappointing for sure [been there], but I understand that life has to be flexible. Do not carry the hurt for more than 27 minutes... because no one wants to disappoint. No one cancels without a good reason. It's really a surprise when something unexpected happens. So keep a good heart if this happens to you.