It is all too common in modern, day to day living, that everybody comes home at different times in the evening. The children are fed first and they agree to it after much cajoling – only if they can watch their

favorite TV show at the same time! Despite knowing all the problems associated with watching TV while eating (obesity being the foremost), most harried mothers acquiesce. rationalizing that at least the child will eat something.

Next is the turn of the elders in the house and / or the lady of the house, either together or separately (ubiquitous TV continues droning in the foreground), since the man of the house usually comes in too late (poor fellow! has to work so hard!).

And finally, it is the turn of the overworked man of the house (by which time, hopefully, the children have already gone to sleep or worse are still watching their nth TV show or doing their homework). And then we complain of the dissolution of the family as a primary unit! One of the things that distinguishes man from other creatures is, that eating food together is a ritual of great symbolic and social value. This is where we discuss, argue (civilly), remain informed of happenings in each other’s lives. This is also the time when we. as parents. can influence our kids without sermonizing them.

I was reading Michael Pollan’s “Cooked A Natural History Of Transformation …”. He is obviously a great writer in addition to being a great cook and he puts it much better than I can say it:

The shared meal is no small thing. It is a foundation of family life, the place where our children learn the art of conversation and acquire the habits of civilization: sharing, listening, taking turns, navigating differences, arguing without offending. Michael Pollan