6 tips for making the most of family meals

Experts recommend families eat together as often as possible. Even one meaningful family dinner a week can make a difference. Try these approaches for some family bonding over the breakfast, lunch or dinner table.

Let the phone ring

If you have an answering machine use it. Even go as far as turning the volume down. Don’t let the telephone interrupt valuable family time.

Start talking

Set the tone for the meal and get the conversational ball rolling by asking each family member to talk about one good thing that happened during the day or in the case of breakfast, what they are looking forward to about the day.

Avoid sensitive subjects

Mealtime is not the time to bring up questionable grades or chore issues. Save touchy topics for a more appropriate time.

Squash squabbles

Set kids apart from one another and out of kicking range. If arguments erupt, firmly say, That’s enough, and change the subject.

Respect the cook

Heck, give her or him a kiss too. Comments like gross or yuck are not permitted.

Make meals mandatory

Don’t let kids skip a meal because they’re not hungry or are in a bad mood. Doing so will only distance them from the family. If you find yourself sitting across the table from a testy teen, simply ignore him until he seems receptive to some conversation.