NOW CLOSED:Bisto Aah Night want your top tips on how to enjoy family meal times - 2 x £100 hampers up for grabs, plus additional chance to win £1000

[rebeccamumsnet]

The Bisto Aah Night campaign is trying to help families put aside one evening a week for a proper home cooked meal together. A while back we asked Mumsnetters to volunteer
to try the Aah Night challenge and film their efforts and you can see their edited films and . Do take a minute (or 3.23 mins to be precise) to watch the films and then answer this question for a chance to win a £100 hamper of goodies.

If you click here you can also find out how your child could be one of 5 new Bisto Kids by telling Bisto how you'd make Aah Night happen in your family. Winners will be the new faces of the campaign and have the chance to win a £500 Red Letter Day experience plus every entrant gets the chance to win £1000 in cash. (closing date for this is NOV 29TH so hurry!!!)

Bisto would also love to hear your family's top tips on fitting in family meal time into a busy schedule- how often (if at all) do you manage it? Do you enjoy it? How can you make it easier, more enjoyable etc? Everyone who posts their tips on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win another £100 hamper of goodies. Your tips may be used on Mumsnet and elsewhere. If you want to pledge your support for the campaign, sign up here. Thanks and good luck.

[longdarktunnel]

Let them help prepare things - tipping veg into the pan, laying the table, grating cheese.

Trial new food in a low-stress environment. I make things for me then save a portion to serve them later - as it's already cooked, I don't mind so much if they reject it. Then, if it's a hit, we'll all eat it together another time.

I now try and eat dinner with them as often as possible. It doesn't work on the days I work, but whereas I used to eat with my husband when they were in bed, since we separated I find that eating all together is more convenient, more fun, and generally easier.

[largevirginbirthandtonic]

Oooh great tips on here.

Strandedatseasonsgreetings dh is away at sea on my own for it, every day. Luckily have fab children who love the camera and food

Mouldymoldie ta for liking the names

It was great to do, well the children loved it. We normally sit down together a 5 nights out of 7. Sometimes you just need some peace though!

[mollyroger]

we only usually manage Sunday roast together but sometimes we have a huge saturday morning brunch.
We like to listen to music and we take it turns to choose some to listen to and the chooser's taste is respected (so sometimes its The Muppets, sometimes classical, and sometimes death metal ) Listening to music provides a good kick board for conversation if the teen (or anyone else!) is being non-communicative...
Bad table habits are gently picked up on and corrected with the promise of grander/more exotic dining establishments in the future.

[FreakoidOrganisoid]

I eat together with the children every night, usually at the table. However because I am a single parent and the dc are quite young (4 and 2)I quite often find mealtimes an ordeal to get through rather than an enjoyable experience ("sit down, use your cutlery, stop throwing food, eat your own food not your sister's, don't forget to eat as well as talk, don't kick your brother" etc etc)

My tips for easing the stress are

• Try not to rush through the meal because you are thinking of the million and one things you still have to get done afterwards
  
• Serve up the food and let them get on with it
  
• Self assembly meals are usually a winner here eg wraps or pasta with a selection of toppings (a bigger table would help here though, we don't really have room for anything more than our plates!)
  
• Make them go for a wee before you dish up
  
• If you have a child who can take half an hour to eat one mouthful set a timer (for a reasonable amount of time, the idea isn't to be bolting your food against the clock!). Once it rings any food left is removed [evil]

[sethstarkaddersmum]

Young children tend to at their best in the mornings so if your children are small do a sit-down breakfast instead of evening meal - way more enjoyable. (Though difficult to incorporate gravy so may not be what Bisto are looking for.)

[HollyTwat]

We eat all our meals at the table except on Saturday's when I don't cook if I can help it! We have fish and chips and a snacky tea.

My tips: cook stuff they like, don't force them to eat stuff they don't but occasionally have a separate dish of something to try.

Get them involved. My two love cooking something that everyone enjoys and whilst it's harder work as they are little they will eat it as they've made it.

Get them helping to set/clear the table

Cook fun food like wraps where they can get messy and choose what they want in it

I'm a manners freak so my two know how to behave even if they sometimes choose not to!

[going]

I give my children choice in what they want to dinner. It does make them eat better! They are used to sitting at the table but we only have time to do it as a whole family at the weekend.

[Sazisi]

oh Freakoid I like your tips - especially getting them to go for a wee before dishing up..I've been a mum for 11 years+ and that never occured to me

[bakedapplepie]

I am in the process of weaning my 6 mth old, and determined to set the scene for the future. we have no Tv or any other gizmo that catches her attention. she sits in her baby nest and away we go. I have however learnt that it is important to eat together as some weeks back, she had her tea, and some time later I sat next to her with mine. she was curious, lurched forward and landed in my tea, came up for air, covered in sweet potato. we now always eat together, even if im just having a snack. eating isnt just a necessity its a social occasion too.

[solo]

Start as you mean to go on if possible, if kids get used to eating with their family at the table from an early age, they'll expect it and will probably continue to do it as adults with their own family!
We always sit together as a family at the dining table to eat our evening meal. It's a great time to chat about anything and everything whilst enjoying your food.
My old Aunt says 'Families that eat together, stay together.'

[freefruit]

We eat together virtually every night too. (Occasionally someone is at work etc)

Top tip is to get everyone to take it in turns to say what the best/worst thing sbout their day was.
We plan the weekend/a trip/holiday activities together.

[whomovedmychocolate]

We sing at the table - generally an ode to a potato - completely tunelessly to the theme of nursery rhymes. Makes the kids laugh and stick around longer. Also don't discount the dinnerdinnerdinnerdinnerdinnerdinnerBATMAN! chant for getting bums on seats

[FreakoidOrganisoid]

Sazisi it took a lot of interrupted meals for it to dawn on me

[moonbells]

We're a weekend breakfast and Sunday Lunch family. Once DS had got to the age where he could be expected to eat using proper utensils and serve himself from bowls and jugs, we started making the effort to cook a proper roast every Sunday.

My tips:
Do as much as possible beforehand. Bit like Christmas really. I often peel spuds or carrots the night before and leave in cold water in pans on the cooker.

Leave meat cooking to DH!

Do two pots of gravy - one adult sized and provide a small jug with cooler gravy in for DC to serve themselves. And which won't matter if they upend it...

(This one came from an old MN thread) encourage child(ren) to thank the cook.

Try not to throw new stuff at them too often: we stick to several 'staples' we know DS will eat like carrot wheels and broccoli, and roast potatoes. Then we try and add something different in as well (and choose a different roast from previous week). And gradually over several weeks, he'll start to try it. At the moment this is roast parsnips. (He loved parsnip mash when weaning so I know he likes the taste!)

Don't leave the washing-up in the hope DH will spot it and spontaneously chip in. It'll never happen! Provide instructions of what to do and hand him the pot brush/teatowel.

DS (3) now helps set the table, too

[lagrandissima]

Top tip: with young kids wait till you've dished up before you ask them to wash their hands - then the food can cool down before they attack it.

[MaryBS]

The children enjoy telling Daddy off for things which they get into trouble for - for instance, not coming when called, or leaving the table before everyone has finished. Of course, Mummy would never do anything like that! :o

[WilfShelf]

This thread is still bringing out the worst in me. I want to resist. Like writing really bad made up things when the bear comes home.

"Oh yes, we flew to Colombia and picked our own cocaine. Here's a lovely picture of Barney with an AK47..."

Yes. Of course. We ALL NEED TO SIT AT THE TABLE. Or we will all die. And our children will become zombies. It is the end of the world.

[TwoIfBySea]

My top tip is for everyone to pitch in. Even from the youngest age they can carry something to the table. When they are older get them to help with the cooking. That way not only are family mealtimes not the responsibility of just one person but you're instilling good habits. Same goes for the table manners kids get from sharing a family dinner as often as is possible.

[TwoIfBySea]

My top tip is for everyone to pitch in. Even from the youngest age they can carry something to the table. When they are older get them to help with the cooking. That way not only are family mealtimes not the responsibility of just one person but you're instilling good habits. Same goes for the table manners kids get from sharing a family dinner as often as is possible.

[Fennel]

My top tip is don't stress too much about it and remember it's supposed to be a pleasant experience, eating together and chatting. If it's hard work then perhaps it's not worth persevering with.

and with 3 dds and awareness of the prevalence of eating disorders, I think it's vital to make eating a pleasant experience not something to worry about. To me that's more important than a rule about having to have formal meal times all togehter.

We have quite jolly family meal times, we eat together every day and all witter away about our day, but I'm not sure I'd enforce them if it wasn't enjoyable.

[Mousesmummy]

Last term was a nightmare for us because the children had so many after school clubs - it felt like they were all eating at different times of the evening! It reached breaking point one day when I had to take a flask of soup and bread in a freezer bag for my eldest dd to eat whilst waiting for the other two dd's to finish dance. DD1 had come straight from drama and was going on to Brownies - so a flask was all she would have - or not eat until 8pm!!!
This term we have agreed only two after school clubs each per week - this way we can eat as a family 5 nights of the week - I think this will be more beneficial to them, and us as a family, than 40 minutes prancing round the church hall in a leotard
Feed the soul!!!

[AnnMumsnet]

Just to let you know....strandednomore won the film quiz and pozzled won for adding a tip/comment to the thread - both receive a hamper worth £100.