Family dinner ideas is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Vanity Fair® Napkins. The opinions and text are all mine.
A few weeks ago my family and I joined the #takebackthetable challenge from Vanity Fair® Napkins. Honestly with busy scheduled we have just gotten lazy about everyone eating when they can and sitting on the sofa in front of the TV. We also realized we were just spending too much on eating out instead of planning ahead and having food at home to prepare quickly. These tips and family dinner ideas have really helped us eat together more.
#takebackthetable is Vanity Fair® Napkins challenge for families to try and eat together around the table more often. Start by adding one day a week more than you do now. Studies show children who eat together with their family are healthier both mentaly and physically and that is something we all want for our children. Here is the video we made to accept the challenge and challenge some friends as well. You can make one yourself and share it on social media with the #takebackthetable hastag.
Since starting the challenge we have now added two more days a week at the table. It's really fun to sit and ask each other about our days and tap into what's going on with our kids at school.
Quick Dinner Ideas
Organize and Make a Weekly Meal Plan
Sometimes taking the time on the weekend to make a meal plan, shopping list and doing all your shopping before Monday will assure you have something on hand. Not having to think about what to cook can be half the battle. You can use my weekly meal planner printable to help you.
Crockpot Dinner Ideas
Spending 5-15 minutes in the morning will allow you to have dinner ready when you all get home. Now all you'll need to do is set the table and eat. Of course don't forget the Vanity Fair® Napkins!
Here are some great crockpot family dinner ideas to try:
- 10 Fabulous Slow Cooker Soups
- Best Crockpot Meals
- 50 Back to School Crockpot Dinners
- 75+ Slow Cooker Meals
- 25 Slow Cooker Dinners
- 50+ Amazing Slow Cooker Meals
Freezer Cooking
There is such a thing as 30-day cooking, but you don't have to take it that far. Making a few meals made ahead to keep in the freezer will allow you to pull something out on the fly. You can get together with some girlfriends on the weekend (with some wine of course) to cook together and make Dad do something with the kids. Get my Freezer Meals 101: Tips and Tricks for Successful Freezer Meals it includes a shopping list that will combine ingredients for multiple recipes together before you shop.
Here are some other great freezer meal family dinner ideas:
- The Pioneer Woman Freezer Meals
- 9 Freezer Ready Casseroles
- 30 Freezer Meal Ideas for Busy Moms
- 17 Feezer Meal Prep Sessions
Casserole Recipes
There are some great casserole ideas out there and they are usually really easy to put together and make a complete meal. Follow my Casserole Recipes Board on Pinterest.
Make Meal Time Fun
Switch it up and have breakfast for dinner (we call it brenner in our house) and have waffles or pancakes. Have a theme night where you try a new cuisine, decorate the table to your theme, or the kids color special placemats for the theme. It can be as easy and serving dinosaur shaped nuggets from the freezer section and putting out plastic dinosaurs on the table. You can even make these fun DIY Dinosaur handle cups or napking rings on the weekend to use.
We'd love for you to join us in the challenge! You can learn more about it here and see what others are doing by following on Instagram!
I took the pledge to #takebackthetable to show how important it is to spend more time with family at meal time.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Vanity Fair® Napkins. The opinions and text are all mine.
