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Original poster

What do you do whilst you're eating?

117 replies

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 05/02/2025 17:12

I usually eat my 5pm dinner with dd at the table whilst the chase is on

As its cold, we're spending out time in my bedroom where it's warmer so we just eat on the bed with trays

Otherwise I always eat whilst watching tv

I'm trying to avoid the tv as much as poss except for love island and eastenders so now I'm sat listening to the radio whilst 'eating mindfully' for my weight loss 🙄 with dd on her tablet

It feels so weird as I used to always pair eating and watching tv - i do think that's where the weight gain comes from as I'd need food to watch a good show

OP posts:
Original poster
mumofoneAlonebutokay · 05/02/2025 18:56

ItGhoul · 05/02/2025 18:15

You know what's really sad and trashy? Deliberately being unpleasant to total strangers whose personal choices have no impact on whatsoever, knowing full well how rude and childish you're being.

I don't have kids, OP, but when I eat with my DP we usually eat at the table and have the radio on - usually 6Music or an internet radio station. Occasionally we listen to a particular podcast we both love. Sometimes, though, we do eat on a tray in front of the telly, especially if we're watching a film on a Friday night or a football match.

When I eat on my own I usually read or listen to a podcast or an audiobook.

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I've dug out the last few copies of vogue to try reading during my next mealtime

I feel like books are difficult to hold and eat, and i get distracted by my thoughts and lose my place 🤭

Your nights with dp sound lovely 🥰

OP posts:
Original poster
mumofoneAlonebutokay · 05/02/2025 18:59

Properdaebak · 05/02/2025 18:10

I get up very early and always have my cup of tea and toast while sitting in front of my laptop reading mumsnet posts.

I like to do this, but yes, it's easier to over eat when distracted by looking at the computer, I think.

The next meal is tea time, with DH and grown up DSs.
We sit round the table, with a tablet on the table silently showing beach cams, a welcome sight in winter.

As its dark out, we have tiny orange-coloured LED lights draped high above the table for ambience, and we chat together while we enjoy our meal.

That sounds lovely tbh

I've been thinking about doing themed dinners once a week for dd, based on different cultures from around the world. I could put on a youtube video of whichever country I'm trying to teach her about

It'd have to be only one meal as she has a limited diet and acts like anything that looks unfamiliar is pure poison 🙃

Agree re overeating - yeah I get in my thoughts and start eating without even focusing on the taste of the food so that has to stop

OP posts:
Original poster
mumofoneAlonebutokay · 05/02/2025 19:03

Stravaig · 05/02/2025 18:35

I hesitate to post this on MN, but if you're venturing into the world of eating mindfully, and sometimes alone, then maybe it'll inspire, and if not, you can laugh at me 😆

You can turn it into a sort of extended saying of grace, or thinking it, about everything from the earth that nourished, the rain that watered, the sun that ripened; to the people who planted and tended and harvested; the hands which packed and shipped and sold; to the details of how each specific food is grown and harvested and transported and cooked.

I eat a lot of vegetables, and used to grow them for a living, so it's perhaps easier for me to visualise the journey of broccoli or tomatoes or whatever, but it's also fascinating to learn about, and might get you started on gently musing about your food as you eat it. Helpful if you're overhauling your diet, and a fun educational activity with children too.

It slowly cultivates an appreciation for good nourishment, and gratitude for everything that contributes to the food on our plates.

Including your work to earn money to buy and prepare and cook it, of course :)

I like this

Dd isn't quite there with her understanding yet but I could do basics like where veg grows

I could get her some matching tasks to show where various fruits and veg come from, ie the tree, the Caribbean etc

And for myself, I've really gotten into understanding food and it's processes so I agree with you - id love to be one of those people who can identify herbs and ingredients used in a dish from tasting it x

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Weight management
TanginaBarrons · 05/02/2025 19:04

Peak Mumsnet - a patronising tone of judgement running through the majority of these responses. I would imagine that the majority of people who have these harmonious dinners with their children debating current affairs don't have ND kids. Or certainly not the type of ND kid who cannot tolerate polite chit chat around a dining table.

Op, it's great that you are eating with your dd - crack on with whatever works for you.

RaininSummer · 05/02/2025 19:04

If I am on my own, I read. My current book on the tablet or mumsnet. If together, my partner and I watch the news normally.

Mittens67 · 05/02/2025 19:05

I’m with you OP.
Lovely that all these others have families, partners whoever to sit at a table with and have conversations but back in the real world where some people live alone, don’t have a table or family who can/ will chat with them then the tv is excellent company.
I think associated activities are certainly a thing for me with snacking though as like you I feel watch a good show requires a good snack.
Some MN posters are so thrilled with their own virtue. Gives me a good laugh anyway.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 05/02/2025 19:06

Either watch TV or read. And when I had a DC living at home we always watched TV together - generally the young adult stuff that he was into and chat about any of the issues that may come up on the shows.

We did the dining table thing when he was younger - mainly because the table is in the kitchen and I didn't want food on the living room carpet.

If you can afford it I think eating out as a family is great.

And nowt wrong with sitting on the bed and eating while watching TV / reading if you are by yourself - I quite often sit upstairs and read/eat if I don't want to watch whatever DH has on TV downstairs.

Theextraordinaryisintheordinary · 05/02/2025 19:12

We always set the table and sit and eat together with some quiet music on and candles. We catch up about the day we’ve had. No screens/phones allowed. I can understand what you’re saying though if you’re feeling lonely without a telly. Lots of people will be similar I bet.

SabreIsMyFave · 05/02/2025 19:15

We watch TV, with our plated food on a tray Haven't ate dinner at the dining table since the DC were about 12-13! (Like around 15-16 years.)

We have it around 6.30pm, and usually with The Chase on ITV+1, the news, or Classic Corrie that we recorded earlier in the afternoon!

EllieQ · 05/02/2025 19:19

If I’m eating with DH & DD, we eat at the table with the radio on. No phones unless we want to look something up that’s come up in conversation.

If I’m eating on my own at home, I have the indulgence of eating from a tray in front of the TV, or while scrolling on my phone. It feels like a treat 😀

HamandCheeseSandwich · 05/02/2025 19:22

I can't get over the eating in beds/bedrooms 🤢

JimHalpertsWife · 05/02/2025 19:23

I watch TV if alone / only me and dh. I don't tend to watch a lot of TV so we put an episode of whatever series we are working through on and watch one while we eat.

JimHalpertsWife · 05/02/2025 19:24

HamandCheeseSandwich · 05/02/2025 19:22

I can't get over the eating in beds/bedrooms 🤢

Edited

Given the OP mentions she does it as the bedroom is the warmest, I'd probably reserve judgement. It sounds like OP is struggling to heat her home.

Deljay · 05/02/2025 19:24

I just eat my food. Do you need another thing to do? If I'm with someone I talk to them as well.

Original poster
mumofoneAlonebutokay · 05/02/2025 19:27

TanginaBarrons · 05/02/2025 19:04

Peak Mumsnet - a patronising tone of judgement running through the majority of these responses. I would imagine that the majority of people who have these harmonious dinners with their children debating current affairs don't have ND kids. Or certainly not the type of ND kid who cannot tolerate polite chit chat around a dining table.

Op, it's great that you are eating with your dd - crack on with whatever works for you.

Thank you 🥰

Yeah she's sick of me at mealtimes 😄 i sense she thinks my job is to provide the food without the chit chat, same with the cat 🤭

Some of the responses have had me feeling like a real weirdo though 😄

OP posts:
Properdaebak · 05/02/2025 19:29

@MyIvyGrows so glad my post made your day!!

Original poster
mumofoneAlonebutokay · 05/02/2025 19:29

JimHalpertsWife · 05/02/2025 19:24

Given the OP mentions she does it as the bedroom is the warmest, I'd probably reserve judgement. It sounds like OP is struggling to heat her home.

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It's expensive! Especially as dd gets sick without it on at night so after school in the winters we're upstairs where it's warmer with the carpet and I've got the electric blankets running on our beds

OP posts:
JimHalpertsWife · 05/02/2025 19:29

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 05/02/2025 19:27

Thank you 🥰

Yeah she's sick of me at mealtimes 😄 i sense she thinks my job is to provide the food without the chit chat, same with the cat 🤭

Some of the responses have had me feeling like a real weirdo though 😄

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Mumsnet does that. Unless you eat a MASSIVE salad and a magic roast chicken that lasts a week and sit and discuss the latest issues in terms of carbon footprints and the benefits of home Ed, you might as well not post sometimes.

WhatALightbulbMoment · 05/02/2025 19:30

frozendaisy · 05/02/2025 17:39

When ours were 5 and under, we ate at the table, music on the radio helps, R1 is usually quite happy, pop, fun music but there are numerous stations to pick from.

If you find you need "something else" with your daughter, because I could tell you what we do but we are a family of 4, now teens, so it's utterly irrelevant what we do, but if you want more 'mindful' (for want of a better word) dining time then bring something to the table, it could be a teddy which daughter "serves up a small plate" - think one pea one chip type thing. You can use teddies/dolls as props, "so does Mr Ted prefer the pea or the chip?"

Asking children their opinion on things that are irrelevant, chips and peas, or colours of t-shirts or songs on the radio, helps build their emotional confidence that their voice and opinion is important and they should be heard.

So we did lots of that. There are loads of books under the "would you rather" range, for all different ages, they are questions, would you rather have wings or a tail? type things, get one of those for the youngest age group and go through a question or two, with upbeat music in the background.

There are no right or wrong answers, you can tailor the questions and how you interact to your daughter's ability and comfort. You can do one question each night or several if you are having fun.

I really enjoyed the "debates" we all used to have when they were young, it was so entertaining hearing glimpses into how they saw things.

We have kept up versions of Would You Rather to this day, the questions are more complicated I guess now, and involve world events, feelings, politics even, but it's the same principle, open ended questions up for debate.

What a great post! Thank you!

Original poster
mumofoneAlonebutokay · 05/02/2025 19:30

EllieQ · 05/02/2025 19:19

If I’m eating with DH & DD, we eat at the table with the radio on. No phones unless we want to look something up that’s come up in conversation.

If I’m eating on my own at home, I have the indulgence of eating from a tray in front of the TV, or while scrolling on my phone. It feels like a treat 😀

It feels lovely, especially in the winter when it's cold anyway

OP posts:
JimHalpertsWife · 05/02/2025 19:30

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 05/02/2025 19:29

It's expensive! Especially as dd gets sick without it on at night so after school in the winters we're upstairs where it's warmer with the carpet and I've got the electric blankets running on our beds

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Sounds lovely and cosy and I'm sure your dd feels loved xx

Whoarethoseguys · 05/02/2025 19:31

Chat if I am with someone if alone I read or listen to the radio. I don't usually watch tv

Hayley1256 · 05/02/2025 19:34

Normally listen to music, if I'm on my own I'll browse my phone or read. On Fridays me and DD will eat at the table but we'll watch fail army on my tablet as a treat

Lovemycat2023 · 05/02/2025 19:34

If I’m eating by myself I try and eat at the table, usually with my kindle (it’s got a holder so I can prop it up to read whilst I eat).

No kids, so if it’s just me and partner it’s usually in front of TV with tray on laps. If it’s messier food (like tacos) then at the dining table.

Original poster
mumofoneAlonebutokay · 05/02/2025 19:36

Mittens67 · 05/02/2025 19:05

I’m with you OP.
Lovely that all these others have families, partners whoever to sit at a table with and have conversations but back in the real world where some people live alone, don’t have a table or family who can/ will chat with them then the tv is excellent company.
I think associated activities are certainly a thing for me with snacking though as like you I feel watch a good show requires a good snack.
Some MN posters are so thrilled with their own virtue. Gives me a good laugh anyway.

I've been reading the posts like 😬😬 oh dear 😄

Dd isn't a fan of my chattering but I will see if I can get her interested in some of her fave nursery rhymes during dinner, to get her communcating with me

Yes, 100%, my thinking was, okay I'll watch eastenders and have dinner or ill have popcorn or biscuits and that's how the weight got me, so I had to stop

If you've never tried it eating in bed with a great tv show, break with convention and give it ago when alone! 🤭🥰

OP posts: