August 31, 2010
Sherri Meyer, MG Registered Dietitian

My husband Tom and I are not big TV watchers, simply because our free time is limited.  I much prefer to cuddle up to a good book (& husband) on our patio drinking a glass of wine (long after the kiddos have gone to sleep).  However, I will admit that our kitchen TV is on as “background” noise most of the day (except for dinner time). Usually it is tuned to a national news station and much to my husband’s chagrin I often give him running commentary on what is happening in the world.  Recently, however, our beloved kitchen TV went kaput and we were faced with a “silent” kitchen. Though we planned on getting a new TV, time prevented us from doing it immediately.  So, instead of talking back to the news, I found myself singing along to soothing music we played on our iPod docking station.  I found my stress level was significantly reduced as I listened to relaxing music rather than the state of our economy.

So, you might ask what this has to do with food. Well, since the TV is in our kitchen, I relied on this background noise during quick meals when my husband was not present.  The boys & I would sit at our breakfast bar and as much as I tried to distract them their eyes always gravitated towards the noise.  When we no longer had TV noise to distract us, I found that we were all fully present at the meal.  Even though it was a thrown together meal of eggs or pasta (I let Oliver choose the dinner when Daddy is not home), it felt much like a real “dinner” even though Daddy was not there to partake.  I even took it one step further and moved us to the family table, rather than eating at the breakfast bar.  Although a 1 and 3 year old are not always the best dinner companions, I found that when we sat at the table as a family, they were both better behaved & I enjoyed their company more.
 
This quote from author Katrina Kenison sums up my feelings best:  “Mealtime offers us an opportunity each day to celebrate being a family. Our sons and daughters learn the hearth’s powerful lessons right here, in their homes, at their own tables. When we honor our human need for nourishment, both physical and spiritual, we teach our children respect for their bodies and for themselves.”

Katrina Kenison

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