Sunday Suppers Around the Table

In the fast paced world in which we live, family gatherings are a lost art among the majority of us. I don’t need to sit here and remind any one of you how busy we all are. Between soccer practice, homework, dance class, doctor’s appointments and ‘Oh yeah mom, I have to have a green shirt for school tomorrow…’ at 9:00pm, it’s a wonder we even have time to feed our families 3 meals a day, much less in the same room at the same time.

Things just aren’t like they used to be, not even 20 years ago. Family dinners are few and far between, and there isn’t a whole lot most of us can do about that right now. However, there is a nationwide movement that is gaining ground. People far and wide are embracing the ‘Sunday Supper’. It may be the only day that we slow down enough to gather around the table and sit and enjoy a home cooked meal together as a family. No rush, no cell phones, no eating in front of the television or while doing homework.

[sws_pullquote_right]The point is, it doesn’t have to be on Sunday, and it doesn’t even have to be supper. The only necessary part of the equation is family, blood or chosen. [/sws_pullquote_right]

Even more special if we can include grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, and coworkers. How wonderful will it be to get the kids involved in the cooking? Passing down family recipes that would otherwise be lost. Most of us don’t have time to do that on a busy weeknight.

A few years back, our one night a week ‘Supper’ with extended family was scheduled on Tuesday nights, because that was the only night everyone could make it. This became our family night. We looked forward to that night all week and the many delicious recipes that got passed around. Our kiddos even tried a new vegetable or two. I am reasonably sure more than a few diets got blown, and boy did we laugh so hard we hurt every time we talked the dads and uncles into playing Just Dance on the Wii.

The point is, it doesn’t have to be on Sunday, and it doesn’t even have to be supper. The only necessary part of the equation is family, blood or chosen.

I hope this post series can help inspire those of you who are struggling with dinner time, and feeling guilty about all the fast food so many of us end up having to feed our kids in between ball games. We tend to be an ‘all or nothing’ society. One meal a week DOES make a difference. That’s 52 meals a year! Can you even imagine all the memories that can be made?

I challenge each and every one of us to give Sunday Suppers a try! Let’s make sure we are nourishing our bodies and souls on good old fashioned home cooked meals and family time, one day a week… One Sunday Supper at a time. Who knows where it might lead?

I am going to be sharing some of our favorite Sunday Supper recipes with you here. I would love to hear some of your favorite Sunday Supper recipes, and how you celebrate Sunday Supper with your families!