Mealtime - September 2007

Mealtime - a time set aside for meals. Almost makes it sound important, having its own time and all. Well, IT IS!

Even if you are single ... I think times should be set aside for sitting down and making your meals an event, and not just an afterthought handed to you through a drive-through window and consumed before your next destination.

There are times for drive-thru's - goodness knows I've visited enough of them in my lifetime. There are also times for paper plates and plastic utensils, like at the family reunion of my in-laws a couple of weeks ago.

But there's also nothing wrong with breaking out a tablecloth, or placemats, and metal "flatware" every once in a while either. Years ago, I visited with some friends of my mother for several days. While I was visiting, they had cloth napkins at every meal ... with napkin rings, no less. Did it make for more work for my hosts? Sure. But the boost it gave me towered over any inconvenience.

You see, we as individuals and families ARE important enough to take a little extra effort at meals. What we eat and drink is what fuels our bodies and allows us to get through what we have to do during a day. Yes, medicine is sometimes important too, but if you didn't or don't eat well, the meds can't work as well either.

So I have a challenge for you all:

If you are single, take a little extra time at one meal in this next week. Make a place setting, light a candle, put a flower on the table. If you're really adventurous, invite someone over to share a meal. If you are married with or without children, make a point to have everyone together at the table for a meal. Use real plates. Talk to each other about how your days went.

Here is a site that focuses on keeping children off alcohol and drugs. This may or may not be a concern in your family. Regardless, they have some good information.

Bon appetit!