Food is more than an everyday experience; as necessary as it is for the body’s survival, it stimulates the mind, is a crucial source of joy and comfort, and creates strong associations with memory that persist lifelong.
Feeding your family is more than nourishment – comforting hot dinners at the end of a long day, a celebratory slice of birthday cake, or a bowl of warm popcorn in front of a film on a Friday night all feed fond memories and bring you closer together.
These are just three experiences that place food at the heart of family life.
1. Screen-Free Mealtimes
Modern life has put technology at the heart of everything we do.
And it has a place in the kitchen – ready-made recipes found in minutes, a hack for perfecting a soft-boiled egg or a search for the nearest takeaway.
But technology can also make us disengage when it matters most, and mealtimes are a prime example.
As a parent, you may be reluctant to limit your child’s screen time – or even struggle to moderate your own. But the presence of digital devices can really eat into much-needed quality time.
If you find that phones and tablets make it hard to switch off or keep a conversation going at the dinner table, try a ‘no-phones’ rule and encourage your family to embrace a more traditional dinnertime.
For those who really struggle to disconnect, ScreenZen is a free app that blocks your digital distractions on your chosen schedule. It’s the only free screen time monitoring app, and you can choose which apps to block and when to limit your temptation.
2. Cooking together
The ability to cook a meal from scratch is an invaluable life skill, and who better to teach your child than you?
It can be hard to engage kids in the kitchen, but giving them responsibility helps them to feel involved. Let them help with meal planning and choose recipes they’d like to try.
You could even attempt to re-create favourite fast foods. The internet is full of fakeaway recipes that will save you money while conquering your craving for the real thing.
A fun way to get your kids invested could be to host your own competitive family Bake-Off or a potluck where everyone brings something they’ve made to the (phone-free) dinner table.
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3. Grow your own produce
Gardening can be peaceful, relaxing and rewarding, and if you have an outdoor space, it’s a great way to get little ones to spend time outside. Familiar favourites like tomatoes and strawberries are easy to start with, and they’ll love seeing the plants they’ve nurtured plated up.
For absolute beginners, the Royal Horticultural Society has an app that not only identifies plants you find but can help you track what you’re growing and give you tips to help your fruits flourish and nurture vibrant veggies.
Have you created any lasting memories or experiences through food? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
