eat dinner at the table and not in front of the t.v.

Since we started living together, my husband and I developed the habit of eating in front of the television. Recently however, we decided to make more of an effort. So now we dim the lights, light some candles, put some music on, set the table and have meals at the dining table rather than in front of the television. It’s been great for several reasons:

1. We get to talk to each other at the end of the working day rather than just vegging in front of the television. I actually look forward to our meals together and to having a nice chat.
2. We end up eating less and enjoying the food more as we’re focusing on the meal more rather than shoving food in our mouths.
3. We cook more and put more effort into preparing the meal.
4. And doing 2 and 3 means that we save money as we eat at home more often rather than eating out or buying takeaway.
5. We wash up after meals rather than just dumping everything in the kitchen because we’re still watching television.
6. And for whatever reason we just feel like more decent human beings because we eat at a table! Could be just our upbringing but there we have it.

How – simple, we bought a new lounge carpet and built a dining room :)

we did eat dinner at the table, and that was nice. of course, we promptly returned to the living room to watch another movie, but hey, at least we had a break in there to cook and eat away from the evil box.

it’s probably due mostly to the fact that hubby is/was having an allergy attack, but either way, we didn’t sit in front of the tube vegging out, and i haven’t turned it on since we finished eating. yay! let’s hear it for a nice, peaceful, relaxing evening at home.

i would be happy.

it obviously goes hand-in-hand with the “watch less t.v. goal” (duh). it’s so obvious to me now but no less an important connection for me to have made.

Mmmmn. This was definitely worth it. We had a delicious meal at our new table. We even lit candles & Isak played quietly while listening to baby Mozart (which is pretty close to romantic background music – I almost added this as a “date with my spouse” too).

We realized halfway through dinner that (barring going out for dinner) it was the first time we’ve done this. We enjoyed it so much we’re doing breakfast too.

Okay. Ixyk just cheered this goal, but see, I can’t quite accept that cheer. We got a table (& 4 chairs) the other night & rather than finding a nice table cloth, I covered it with clothes for my swap. I’m still sorting the leftovers, so we’ve continued to have dinner (gasp!) on the damn bed.

Tonight I would like to make the leap. I think rather than staying online during this babynap time, I will instead clear off the table so we can have a lovely sit-down dinner later.

Yup. Nearly there though…

...a few weeks ago. I think eating at the coffee table in front of the TV was doing bad things to my posture.

Well, we’ve been having bedroom picnics while watching TV for… oh, about a year now. Why? Because we don’t actually HAVE a table appropriate for meals.

On occasion, when we have high-falootin company, we all sit cross legged around the coffee table in the living room as if that is a normal and acceptable way to feed houseguests. Not that anyone ever complained, but it would be nice to have a sit down meal.

The plan is to hit craigslist and have a table & chairs by the end of the week.