When you have a family, it is important that you are spending as much time together as possible. There are many ways that you can bring your family together such as going on days out, playing games together or eating together. Family dinners have seemed to go out of fashion in recent years, but we think that they are very important. Here, we are going to give you some reasons why you should try out family dinners and bring them back. Keep reading to find out more.

Encourage Healthy Eating

The first reason that you should bring back family dinners is the fact that it can actually encourage healthy eating. If your teenagers are cooking their own meals, then it is unlikely that they will be making something healthy. On top of this, by cooking one meal that is shared amongst the family at the dinner table will encourage younger children to eat it. You might find that if you have separate meal times, your kids won’t be able to see the example that you are setting and might be unwilling to eat healthy meals. Make sure to cook a lot of fruit and vegetables and have a big jug of water on the table rather than bottles of fizzy juice. Improve your habits and your kids’ habits will soon follow.

Improve Relationships

Having a good relationship with your family members is very important and having regular family dinners can really encourage that. When you all sit down at the dinner table, you can talk about your day and your plans for the week. This is a great way of getting to know your kids more and ensuring that they are staying safe when out without you. Of course, not everyone has time to have regular family dinners due to differing schedules but if you can organise one or two per week then you will find that communication improves in your family.

Make Use Of Your Dining Room

Many people have a dining room in their house that they never get around to using. This is a good reason to bring back family dinners and have your family sit together in your nicely decorated room. If you are going to have regular family dinners, then you’ll need to have a good quality dining table that will fit everyone that needs to be there. Be sure to check out the following guide by Fishpools on how to choose the right dining room table: https://www.fishpools.co.uk/blog/2018/08/rectangular-round-dining-tables-decide/ –  this will help ensure that you are ready for bringing back those family dinners.

Save Money

Do you find that you are spending a lot of money on takeaways or on separate ingredients for the different meals that you are making? This is a good reason to start having family dinners where everyone eats the same thing, and nothing is wasted each week. You don’t need to get rid of takeaways entirely as these can still be eaten at the dinner table, but you should make sure to cut down on them if you want to save money. Plan your meals for the week and only buy the ingredients that you need for each meal. You will see how much money you can save in the long run if you avoid making a lot of meals and having a lot of wasted ingredients. Sit down with your family to eat a few times a week and you should be able to cut costs in the future.

Explore New Foods

The final reason that you should think about bringing back family dinners in your home is the fact that you can encourage your kids to explore new foods. If you are always cooking a separate meal for your kids, then you might find that you are sticking to the same recipes because you know they like them. When you eat as a family, you can cook meals that they might not have tried before that will suit you as well. When your kids see their siblings or parents trying new foods, they might be more willing to try them. This is a great way of getting your kids into new world foods and improving the flavours that they are trying.

Final Verdict

Many families rarely see each other because of after-school clubs, parents working long hours and many more reasons. If your family are struggling to communicate with each other then you might find that making them all sit down to a family meal a few times a week could really help. Try to make time for these meals and you should find that they can really improve relationships. On top of this, you’ll save money, so it will be worth making this change in the end.

I remember the days when sweets were a treat and something to be enjoyed, but now, there seems to be a slightly, dare I say it, sadistic element creeping in that tempts eaters to test their mettle. I thought it would be fun to look at some of the most unusual sweet flavours out there, but don’t blame me if some of them sound far more weird than wonderful, dear friends.

No 1: Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans

Jelly beans of every conceivable flavour are not a terrifically new invention, but until recent years, ‘every’ has been a little hyperbolic. With the advent of the Harry Potter books, however, imaginative sweets were unleashed upon the world, first in the form of descriptions on a page and then in the studio tour sweet shop. Now, strawberry and popcorn beans can be swiftly followed by something as horrifying as ear wax or even dirt.

No 2: Hot tamarind candy sticks

The clue to the flavour profile of sweets lies in the name – so because we expect something sugary, anything that takes a more spicy turn comes as quite a shock. A perfect blend of fiery chilli and chewy toffee, zingy tamarind chews are popular overseas and now, thanks to the internet, are easy to come by here in the UK as well. They are particularly tasty when eaten with fresh mango as a contrast.

No 3: Green Tea Kit Kats

It’s no secret that matcha green tea seems to be infiltrating every foodstuff right now, but who would have thought that it would influence the humble Kit Kat? A favourite in Japan, green-tea Kit Kats have started to become exceptionally popular, but can take a little getting used to, as the taste is far drier and more earthy than the saccharine-sweet milk-chocolate varieties we are used to.

No 4: Gherkin gumballs

No, this is not a joke. While novelty candy-cane flavours have been available for a while, it seems as though gumballs are swiftly following suit to offer year-round horrendous flavour experiences! I don’t think it will come as a surprise to any of you that gherkin and artificial mint is hardly a culinary match made in heaven, but the briny aftertaste has to be terrible, no?

No 5: Birch-tree chews

While making a sweet taste like a tree might sound obscure to us, in Estonian cuisine, it’s not out of the ordinary at all, hence these intriguing offerings. The chews have been authentically flavoured, which can be confusing at first bite, but having been coated in chocolate, they are a moreish treat that I can imagine being a more exotic alternative to cinema snacks.

No 6: Salted liquorice

Most people consider black liquorice to be something of an acquired taste, but add in some extra sodium and the stakes are far higher! A very popular ‘sweet’ in both Germany and Scandinavia, salted liquorice is freely available over there, but have no fear, as regular visitors to Ikea might be able to find a bag to try in the food shop. It could also work as a fabulous Halloween sweet alternative to deal with pesky trick-or-treaters who don’t seem to have anything nice in their repertoires!

Perhaps it’s time for us all to step outside our comfort zones and try something a little more adventurous than regular sugary snacks…or maybe not, as we don’t want to burn all of our social bridges, do we?

This month I’ve been involved in quite a number of social gatherings, two of which I had the pleasure of influencing. One was an amazing BBQ I hosted in the gorgeous sun last week and the second being a far more emotional occurrence, the passing of a close friend’s mother. I helped organise the ceremony and provided the most of catering. But, if there is one thing I’ve learned, regardless of the occasion, however joyful or tearful it is, the drinks and nibbles always bring people together. So, we gotta do it right! Side note, I managed to source an amazing funeral director at the last minute through LocalFuneral.

Anyway, so, it’s the concept of the “apéritif dinatoire” or “apéro dinatoire” as the cool kids call it. Drinks & Nibbles party, Cocktails & Hors d’oeuvres, Drinks & Buffet, etc, call it what you want, you’ve probably taken part in this one as well. It’s basically an extended Apéritif, fuller and longer, that replaces a formal, sit-down dinner with so many little nibbles that they form a full meal. And booze, of course.

Less formal, less constraining in terms of prep, and more convivial than a classic meal, the Drinks & Nibbles night is bound to be a winner for most occasions. Want to give it a shot for your next party with your friends? Here are some of our tips and tricks for organising your Apéro dinatoire.

Tip no 1: Organise your time well

The formula of the Drinks & Nibbles party is certainly cooler and more relaxed than a classic dinner. However, you do not want to take the preparation lightly if you wish to avoid a few setbacks and disappointments. So, remember to organise your schedule so that everything goes for the best. Anticipate what culinary preparations require a certain cooking time, how much time you need to arrange your verrines and other presentations, the chronology of different catering elements, etc… For more serenity, don’t hesitate to delegate some tasks such as welcoming guests, keeping an eye on the oven, etc…

Tip no 2: Choose the right nibbles and the right presentation

Did you think organising an Apéro dinatoire was going to save you from the dinner-style headache of choosing the right ingredients and recipes? Think again dear friend. Drinks & Nibbles means loads of nibbles and prep. You can of course choose to prepare everything yourself in advance (just remember tip no 1 and plan your time well!). But you can also opt for readymade formulas. Good thing is, they are often already presented in an elegant and refined fashion. Head to M&S for tasty nibbles made with good ingredients or Cook for the frozen option if you want to plan well in advance.

Presentation is not to be neglected. Remember than carefully arrange verrines or platters can take some time and patience, and you will need to account for that! Arrange all your nibbles on one table if possible, and remember: the volume is bigger than that of a regular pre-dinner event, so offer side plates and forks or spoons. The real stuff is always nicer (you could have a variety of different small vintage plates for colour and so that every guest can recognise his or hers!) but if you are running short try and get some quality plastic crockery, or melanine picnic ware which is more solid and cheaper than china.

Tip no 3: Diversify drinks!

For an Apéro dinatoire, your guests will spend a lot of time on nibbles. But they need hydration too! And here, the more guests you have, the more variation you could have in tastes and requirements. Rather than impose one drink on everyone, widen the scope of offers: champagne, rum, whisky, fruity cocktails, etc. Don’t forget the people who don’t drink alcohol, and have different offers here too (cucumber water, juice, soda…). Calculate your stocks well to make sure the party doesn’t get dry!

Tip no 4: Create a vibe, add some ambiance!

One of the great things about a Drinks & Nibbles party is that your guests don’t have to sit on their fixed chairs and talk with their table neighbours. Dim the lights, choose a playlist of the latest tunes or timeless classics, decorate your reception area nicely (fairy lights, candles, flowers…) and be the first to put some spirit into the party. More on the shy side? Find your most outgoing buddy and entrust him or her with the mission!