How often do you eat at the dinner table?

[mosiacmaker]

How often do you eat at the dinner table vs on the sofa for “tv dinner”, and do you have kids?

My DP and I have no kids and we eat on couch in front of TV a lot and I am starting to dislike it. It feels lazy and boring and like a bad habit.

When we went to visit his parents I realised they eat all meals on the couch with the tv constantly on and I see where he gets it from (and was slightly horrified as this would never happen in my family!).

I would hate this to be our family norm in the future so I am trying to break the cycle now and get us into the habit of sitting at dining table to eat dinner. Maybe have a Friday night “tv dinner” but have this be intentional and a fun treat rather than the default.

But I am curious about what other people do and whether I am being needlessly old school on this?

Would you say you have the majority of meals at dining table/kitchen island/couch? Where do you eat breakfast?

Did this change when you had kids?

Where did your own family eat when growing up and is this reflected in what you do?

My family always ate dinner at the dining table when we were kids, except for Friday and Saturday evening. We pretty much do the same now.

Breakfast and lunches are a bit more fluid.

Since kids, 100% of meals at the dining table unless we’re eating on the go. Pre-kids, 95% there.

Always eat at the table : nobody watches the TV anymore, cup final maybe.

I can’t eat on the sofa since having children anyway - it triggers heartburn which I had for the first time in pregnancy

all meals at the table here unless we have a picnic in the garden, or sometimes a film evening with a floor picnic

pre children we did eat more frequently in front of the tv but still most meals at the table

(No kids). We always eat either at the kitchen table, or breakfast if it’s just me. I hate eating off my lap so would never eat on the sofa. We do have a TV in the kitchen though.

That was meant to say breakfast bar!

Once a year

All meals are eaten at the table here.
Breakfast and lunch at the kitchen table and evening meal in the dining room.
The kids ate all their meals and snacks at the table. I never allow food anywhere else in the home, certainly not on the couches or bedrooms.
They do the same in their own homes.
We always ate at the table with my parents, as did my DH with his.

Unless we are having takeaway pizza, we eat at the dining table. That was the case both before and after DC.

We always eat at the table ... I find it really uncomfortable eating on the sofa although very occasionally if DH is out I might have a 'sandwich type' meal in front of the tv on the sofa. When we were growing up we never ate on the sofa, my DPs were incredibly formal about meal times ... although it amused me that as they got older they did used to have the occasional meal in front of the tv (complete with silver cruet, napkins and a bottle of wine ).
I don't really like watching tv when I am eating ... can't concentrate on either and if I am honest I am a bit snobbish about it.

Breakfast on the sofa which the news on the TV usually and lunch and dinner at the table. DC is 2,

Kids always eat at the table. If it's just me and my partner, we sometimes eat on the sofa in front of the TV. My kids are just too messy to be eating meals on the sofa

Plus, it's just good to practice eating at the table with kids if you're able to. Gives us a chance to ask about their day, and for them to practice table manners in case we ever do go out to eat.

Everyday, but we watch TV while doing so. I hate it too. But we have nothing to talk about, so TV is a fair option

We have kids (teens) and the evening meal is always at the table, phones away and never in front of the TV. This is the same as my family too.

Breakfast and lunch are more of an "everyone for themselves" kind of thing.

I now live alone. Nearly all meals on the couch watching the TV (it's about the only time I watch it). I can't eat 'on my knee', with a plate knife & fork, but I'm vegetarian and my meals are nearly all fork or finger food. I use pasta bowls rather than a plate most of the time, bowl in one hand. I stayed with my niece (17) the other week & ate at their kitchen/diner table, side by side watching the wall mounted tv, A box set we enjoyed watching together. She was studying (A levels) and this was pretty much her 'downtime'. I enjoyed eating at the table with her.

Growing up, pretty much all meals were at a table, but lots in the garden BBQ's etc. it was more that my Dad hated trying to eat not at a table than anything else.

Before I lived alone, at the table with kids, bit of both with just the adults.

with kids I think it's better to eat at the table. It's just less messy, a nice time to chat & to practice eating properly, learning manners etc.

100% of dinners at the table

Breakfast and lunch is probably 50-50

No kids. Always had all meals at the dining table when growing up.

4 kids. All dinners at the table with TV off and no phones, breakfast and lunch more flexible. When they were younger (late teens now) all meals were at the table to contain the mess.

I have kids.

We eat all our meals at the table.

Every night at the table except if we're having "movie night".

All meals at the table same as my own family growing up. Pre kids we are most meals in front of the TV which I really didn't like.

Same as us.

Pre kids, almost always on the sofa
Post kids, always at the table