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Breaking Bread Together
The Importance of the Family Dinner Table
By Leanne Ely
Actually making the meals is a big issue, too. Women are busy, exhausted and overwhelmed with responsibility. Mom works hard at the job or at home all day. Making menus to post on the refrigerator doesn't happen anymore because there is "no time." Going to the grocery store usually means going without a list and throwing a bunch of prepackaged stuff into the cart because dinner needs to be easy and fast.
The simple practice of making a menu each week will not only help you provide some structure to the family dinner hour, but also will save you a lot of money on your food budget. A simple thing like keeping a running grocery list on the fridge will help you avoid last-minute trips to the grocery store. Your family will be eating healthier and you won't be as stressed out because you know what's for dinner Tuesday night. And while you might not be able to pull off a Norman Rockwell picture perfect family dinner every night, you could probably do it at least once a week.
Menus aren't just for restaurants. They deserve a special place of honor on every family's fridge.
