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?

Lmao at eating at the table being white and woke.

OP - you do what works for you. When I started dating DH he only ever ate on his knees watching TV. I hated it, and for me that was a no go. I want to eat comfortably and find it so much easier at the table - it just seems messy and hard work eating off a tray. I also think it’s much better eating at a table talking to each other as it’s a much more mindful way of eating. I’ve noticed when I eat lunch at my desk and do stuff on the computer I eat without noticing the food then feel like I haven’t eaten.

We will do meals in front of the TV sometimes - usually easy stuff with a movie for date night. Tried curry take away recently and it was just so hard to eat without mess! But I’m a tad dyspraxic.

I hate eating off my lap. My lap is too far away from my mouth.

Every meal we eat is at the table. Even snacks are eaten at the table. No food leaves the kitchen!

If you enjoy it that's fine but it's really not for me.

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

Was that supposed to be a joke?

I don't care where people eat their meals in their houses as I try not to judge. In this house we eat at the table, but that's because in my experience it's a lot easier than eating from your lap. Other people feel differently and that's fine.

We eat all our meals at the table so that we can practice our salutes, the babies need to rest their arms in between practicing.

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

I sit with my elbow bent on the sofa arm and balance my plate on that and my left boob.

It's about 60/40 here in favour of eating off laps.
Things like roast dinners and steak dinners are always at the table or messy dinners such as tacos/fajitas/spaghetti.
But if it's a bowl of chilli/pasta then we all like eating in front of the tv. We all have to agree on a programme though. Its currently don't tell the bride which we all comment on and laugh about, it doesn't feel anti-social. Plus dinner table conversation is wearing a bit thin these days with absolutely no news and all together 24/7!

I prefer the table. I don't like leaning over to eat, it gives me indigestion no matter how many times I try it! I don't mind eating a sandwich on the couch or something, but I'd still prefer a table.

I'm not bothered what other people do - their choice! I did used to hate having Sunday lunch at an ex bfs house when I was a teen though. That was a tray on lap affair and it was so messy!

We eat every meal at the table, even takeaways. Dinner is the only time we are all together now that the older ones are working and it's a great time for a catch up. I couldn't care less what other people do though.

I hate eating off my lap. Nothing to do with privilege (seriously!) , everything to do with finding it uncomfortable, and ending up giving myself heartburn/trapped wind/tummy ache. It is also nice to all sit around the table together and chat. And its nice to be able to serve up at the table and have access to the salad/veg/potatoes/bread/butter/condiments etc that i want without having to go into another room. We have a jug of water (sometimes wine) on the table too, so we can drink as we eat and refill as we desire.

TBH, even if its just me eating alone, I sit at the table to eat.

We always sit at the table for our main meal, if it a sandwich for lunch we eat that on the sofa but any knife & fork meal is at the table

It is also nice to all sit around the table together and chat

But sometimes I don't want to chat. I just want to eat my bangers & mash without someone asking me what I think of the coup in Myanmar just as I shovel a mouthful in. And then have them stare in anticipation whilst I hurriedly chew and swallow. I refuse to speak with food in my mouth and can't bear people - usually guests - who do.

Dinner every night at the table. We've done this since dc was 6 months old. No screens. Because it's such a habit it's not tense.
Every few weeks DC gets a quick oven meal on a Friday and then we get dinner on a tray infront of a film - usually a takeaway that dc wouldn't eat.
Lunch is more relaxed - if we're all at hone we eat together at the table or we have picnic lunch in the living room.

I know it's a lot to do with luck but my child is not a fussy eater at all and I think a lot of that is due to home cooked meals eaten together with no distraction and us rolemodelling

@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.

Hilarious. Do explain?

But eating every meal at a table smacks of unwoke, right-wing white privilege.
Sorry while I change my pants, I've just pissed myself laughing at this.

We didn't even have a dining table growing up, no room in the council houses where my parents lived as there was only a living room and a kitchen downstairs.

Lap meals are a common thing in this house. Mainly because it's just me and DP and that man can eat a roast dinner on his lap. I balance on the coffee table. But in the summer we use the table more, I think it's the dining room it's much cosier in the living room.

We always eat at the sofa except for "special occasions" don't know what we'll do once our baby is eating with us but I think it will probably stay the same. It's how we both grew up.

Unfortunately we don't have a dining table, we don't have the room for one. We always have our meals on trays
Our toddler eats hers at a small table and chair.
I do prefer eating at the table but you quickly get used to eating on the sofa

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

This has to win the internet today, 😂

When our daughter was growing up we always had the evening meal at the table. Since she left home my husband and I tend to just eat from our laps unless it’s a special meal. Daughters been home working from here during this lock down and we tend to eat on our laps now too, but about once a week I’ll properly set the table and do a “naice “ meal.

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

It does?!

I vaguely understand the privilege part of eating every night at the table. Highlights space for a table, highlights 'regular' shift patterns to be together. Hints at a traditional family unit. But right wing / whiteness. Baffled

I prefer it at the end of a long day if I’m tired, but we don’t do it. We have a toddler and I want us to be in the habit of daily dinners eaten at the table, so that’s what we do.

I may relax it a bit when he’s older, but I want to ingrain the habit now; it helps digestion and encourages good conversation and communication.

Moody teens won’t always be moody; it’s better I assume for them to have time with family to share a meal and talk about their days.

Yes. We have those trays with beanbags underneath, very comfy. My toddlers eat at the table though and we eat with them for breakfast and lunch, but us adults don’t want our dinner at 5. So we eat on a tray in front of the tv around 830. I love it and it makes for a relaxing evening.

@FredSoftly

It is also nice to all sit around the table together and chat

But sometimes I don't want to chat. I just want to eat my bangers & mash without someone asking me what I think of the coup in Myanmar just as I shovel a mouthful in. And then have them stare in anticipation whilst I hurriedly chew and swallow. I refuse to speak with food in my mouth and can't bear people - usually guests - who do.

So we are all different, imagine that. More to the point though, how many bangers?

@extentioncord

I sit with my elbow bent on the sofa arm and balance my plate on that and my left boob.

See, the very definition of 'unwoke, right-wing white privilege'!

It actually sounds very dextrous. In my house that would end with flying falafel or something.

A tray table is more petit bourgeois than working class, isn’t it? It’s an attempt to pretend that you are eating at the table, with a knife and fork and a serviette next to your plate like a proper civilised person, not just some oik slobbing out in front of the telly.

If you’re eating on a sofa, just own it. Plate on your lap, or knees up, plate in one hand, fork in the other.