Are family dinners a priority?

I don't have a family in the sense that I think you mean. It is just my boyfriend and myself. We sit down and have dinner together almost every night. Sometimes at the kitchen table, sometimes while we are watching a movie. Every Thursday my sister joins us for dinner. Neither my boyfriend nor my sister cook (well), so I like to go all out on Thursdays and make something special. So yes, family dinners are a definite priority for me.

yes, they are definitely a priority and its challenging to make quick, affordable and healthy meals. my boyfriend has two teenagers who are with us half the time and are somewhat picky eaters. and while i've got them used to ground turkey instead of ground beef (they still stick their noses up but they'll eat it), i am somewhat limited in what i can make for them. i'd love ideas for healthier versions of some family comfort food classics.

Do you make meatloaf? This is an easy recipe. I have never heard anyone not liking it:

1-1 1/2 lbs. ground 93% lean beef or turkey breast
1 egg
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. ketchup
1 c. old-fashioned oatmeal (They'll never know if you don't tell them, I promise!).
1 packet of Fantastic Foods Dry Onion Soup Mix or 1 onion, crushed fresh garlic, chopped green pepper, chopped mushrooms.

Mix all together and bake at 350 for about an hour.

American Chop Suey:

1-1 1/2 lbs of above chopped meat
chopped green pepper
chopped onion
chopped mushrooms
1 jar of spaghetti sauce (a really tasty one)
a little dry sherry to wash out the bottle
some hot sauce or a few chopped jalapenos if you like it spicy
1 pound of whole wheat elbows, cooked

Brown meat and veggies. Add the sauce and pasta to the meat mixture. Serve.

This is still my favorite dinner from childhood.

Suz

Family dinners are a priority, which is difficult with multiple kids in multiple activities. My dh works evenings but I make sure I sit with the kids, even if I will be eating later. We do sometimes have to have dinner at 4:30 to all eat together, but it's worth not making a meal off junk at a ball game.

For 2 years, the tv has been off while we eat. Ahh! That was a good Ahh. It has really helped me to slow down the pace of my eating and be mindful of what I have prepared for us. I jot down one or two word notes during the day to remind me of conversation I want to share with my husband at dinner time.