To ask if anyone else prefer eating their evening meal on a tray?

[FredSoftly]

I have friends who insist that every meal is eaten en famille at the table so everyone can "talk about their day." Then they complain that it's often tense or their teens are moody and uncommunicative.

When I suggest tea on a tray, they gasp in horror!

We often do this in front of the TV and it can make for a nice relaxed evening. We also manage to chat a lot without facing each other across the kitchen table on a nightly basis.

Am I common?

This thread is bonkers. It's somehow uptight and snobbish and narrow minded if you eat your meals at a table, the piece of furniture developed and most suitable for eating? Am I also a a weirdo if I prefer to take baths in a bath and not in a random bucket in the middle of the living room?

@KatharinaRosalie

This thread is bonkers. It's somehow uptight and snobbish and narrow minded if you eat your meals at a table, the piece of furniture developed and most suitable for eating? Am I also a a weirdo if I prefer to take baths in a bath and not in a random bucket in the middle of the living room?

Spare a thought for those us who alternate between eating at the table and in front of the tv, won't you? We are both snobbish and uptight on some days, and commoner slobs the rest of the days, who inevitably make a huge mess all over our sofas because we apparently eat like zoo animals. And don't even mention where we put the salad plate, for goodness sake ......

@TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe

It's easier using a tray than just having a plate on your lap. Preferably one of those trays with a bean bag underneath.

We only use the table when the meal requires or deserves it. Some things are too messy to risk a tray with, other things are too classy. But eating every meal at a table smacks of unwoke, right-wing white privilege.

Love this

@Sunhoop I'm really surprised too. I don't think its a british thing in that I'm not young and have never met anyone that does this (although now wondering if some people do I just don't know this fact...) Certainly if I've eaten with friends I've never been given a "tray" or expected to have it on my lap and close mum-friends eat at the table as we do as we have discussed food habits etc.

I am quite surprised by the thread. It's either more prevalent than I thought or people who eat on their lap are attracted to this thread!

I don't know anyone who would leave their tv on when I've been over or has it on for "background noise" though when I'm there either. And from other threads I assume people do this.

I am happy everyone is different just genuinely surprised!

It is another reason why discussion boards like this are great. Challenging things we assume to be "normal"!

But eating every meal at a table smacks of unwoke, right-wing white privilege.

Seriously?
That sounds like it is coming from someone with a chip on their shoulder.

Most of DH's family lived in or live in council houses and are very much working class. Every kitchen had a table and chairs in for eating meals.

I would be too if my children had friends over for dinner and were expected to eat off their laps as it's just not the done thing here

Would you refuse to let your DC go for tea at a friend's house who didn't have room for a table?

You seem very impressed with my salad habits, LouJ85.

Did I touch a nerve there?

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

You seem very impressed with my salad habits, LouJ85.

Did I touch a nerve there?

😂😂😂😂

If referencing a "salad plate" is something that "touches a nerve" with me then I'd have big issues.

I hope not, but you seem to be referencing it quite a lot. Don't sweat it, it'll be fine.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

I hope not, but you seem to be referencing it quite a lot. Don't sweat it, it'll be fine.

Because I found it amusing 😂

When kids were children we always ate at the table. No food or drinks were allowed anywhere else. Sometimes snacks. Now we often eat dinner on a tray watching TV.

We eat every meal on trays in front of TV. We prefer it to eating at the table. It's very comfortable, not sure why people think it's less comfortable than sitting at the table? My sofa is way more comfy than a wooden chair! You lot can't be doing it right! 😊

I love eating while watching something. I get bored just doing one or the other.

My DH had a middle class upbringing and his family always ate at the table. On meeting me he was a bit dubious over my practice of tray eating, but he came round to it and now prefers it. When I occasionally suggest eating at the table, he usually declines.

To all those questioning the number of trays, we own 4 square ones.

It's also much less prep and clearing up to eat on trays.

Batten down the hatches, salad plate fiasco brewing, its all kicking off.

Will this make the mail!!

Ex bf mum had salad plate, I'd never seen one before.. I found it bizzare although for some dishes like a chowder I can see why it would be useful

Out of interest, do people sometimes sit at the table with takeaways too?

Or does this controversial question call for a whole new thread?

Always eat at the table. Cos it's in the kitchen. Near the cooker and sink. And has a tiled washable floor (cack handed family), many spills.

@LouJ85

Out of interest, do people sometimes sit at the table with takeaways too?

Or does this controversial question call for a whole new thread?

We always sit at the table with takeaways. There is no way I would eat a sloppy curry or a Chinese on my settee. Besides we put all the dishes on the table to help ourselves rather than plate up.

Out of interest, do people sometimes sit at the table with takeaways too?

Always! Not sure why you'd be any less likely to eat a takeaway at the table than any other meal. We usually have Indian or Chinese takeaway - it's much easier to take bits of different dishes and side dishes if you're all sitting round a table with them all laid out!

I was brought up eating my tea on the sofa, or on the carpet in front of the TV.
I still do the same now. The kids (5 and 6) eat at the table if it's really sloppy like spaghetti Bolognese but other than that, they can sit where they like.
We don't even use trays, just balance on knees or the arm of the sofa 😂
Most of the time, I don't even use a knife, just a fork.
We dont even eat Christmas dinner at the table 🙈

But eating every meal at a table smacks of unwoke, right-wing white privilege.

Hahahah did someone actually just write this!😂😂😂😂

@lazylinguist @RampantIvy

Ahhh you see I don't eat Chinese or Indian. Only takeaway I ever have is pizza, and it's just there in a box ready to eat so easy peasy to pop on your lap and eat in front of the telly

There is no way I would eat a sloppy curry or a Chinese on my settee

There's no way of eat a curry or Chinese anywhere. Not a fan. 😂

Except for (randomly) spring rolls. Love them.

I only have one tray. There are 4 of us in the house so we eat at the table which can accommodate us all.

@LouJ85

Out of interest, do people sometimes sit at the table with takeaways too?

Or does this controversial question call for a whole new thread?

With Chinese, we order plenty of things and share them, so the table makes that easier.

With Indian, not many things are shared, but there are more than I imagine would fit comfortably onto a tray. Poppadoms, lime pickle, naan / rice, curry, tandoori chicken - seems to me as if it would be much easier just to use the table.

I suppose there's a case for pizza, but we don't have that as takeaway.

We always eat at the table for convenience, but of we did use trays I expect takeaways would be meals more likely than most to be eaten at the table.