People who love to eat know they will be happy at least three times a day. I have many friends who eat on the go, and you do what you have to do, but at least once a day, I make a concerted effort to gather around a table with the folks in my home and share the experience of a family meal.
I grew up with extended families who ate home cooked meals together as a matter of regular practice. Cost was a primary reason. The expense of feeding our tribe at restaurants relegated the status of those outings to being reserved for special occasions.
Saving money was just one of the benefits. Long after I could easily afford to feed my family anywhere at any time, I clung to the home-cooked family meal. Time spent together around a table breaking bread as a family has had a profound effect on our lives. It would be difficult to replicate the bonding that has taken place during those meals any other way. The relaxed setting provided an opportunity to vent, to gain and show support, and to escape from the day’s tasks with people who share your history. At the table together, we know we are not facing the world alone. Read More
