What time do you eat your evening meal? Do you eat with family, others or alone?

United States
May 20, 2008 4:02pm CST
When I was younger, I can remember my mother always setting the table with plates, silverware, cups, glasses and napkins, for dinner. She said that her mother-in-law told her to do this for my father even when the meal was not done yet. My dad came home from work every day at the same time... around 5p.m. and we ate dinner together, my sisters, parents and I. It was just one of those things that we did. Today, I live alone and eat dinner and whenever... Do you eat with family or with friends or alone? What time do you eat your evening meal?
5 people like this
29 responses
• United States
20 May 08
I eat my dinner at various times depending on that days schedule, but I always eat dinner with my wife and son, unless it is a holiday where dinner includes my immediate family.
• United States
20 May 08
I am glad that you are eating with your wife and son and that you have the holidays with your family...
1 person likes this
• United States
20 May 08
I eat my supper whenever possible in the afternoon. I use my crockpot sometimes. Sometimes I do get together with my immediate family to have supper there. So that's good.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 May 08
Thank goodness for crock pots!
@sisterjinx (1135)
• United States
20 May 08
We eat together but not at any particular time. It's just my hubby, myself, and our one teenager left in the home so we kind of eat whenever everybody starts to get hungry. We all give input on what we want and sometimes we all chip in on making it.
2 people like this
• United States
20 May 08
It is a good thing that you all chip in and make dinner together and then eat together.
1 person likes this
• India
21 May 08
Well, I take my dinner at 10 PM with my room mate . I stay with a room partner as I am a student and we always try to take dinner together . He is working guy so he doesn't stay in day time . But when ever we get time , we try to spend together and take some food ... Thanks !!!
1 person likes this
• United States
21 May 08
It is nice that you enjoy spending time with your room mate... Some students are not so lucky... Wishing you continued happiness.
• India
22 May 08
Thanks !!!
@anawar (2404)
• United States
21 May 08
I had the same childhood! Except my dad came home at 6pm and I had to set and clear the table. Now that I live alone, I eat alone. I eat dinner after 8pm but before 10pm. Sometimes I eat standing up because I'm really not interested in eating. It is nicer to have companions at dinner time. I like when I visit people because everyone eats together. The food tastes better.
@anawar (2404)
• United States
22 May 08
I'm wishing the same thing as you are when it comes to exercising!
• United States
22 May 08
I actually had to set and clear the table too... My mother set it by proxy... grins. I like it when I eat with family and friends on special times together... I can't say that I am uninterested in food... I still like the taste of it and eat it perhaps more that I should and exercise too little... Oh well. Thanks for posting here. Wishing you happiness.
@adoremay (2065)
• Philippines
21 May 08
It depends, when dinner is ready but usually it is after seven... Mother cooks for us. We are seven in the family it includes ma and pa. And we still eat together.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 May 08
So a family of 7 eats after 7p.m. sounds appropriate. LOL Thanks for posting. Do appreciate your ma and pa... read some of the other posts here and you will learn why... What you are experiencing now in having them cook for you and eat with you is what many wish that they could have again. Do please enjoy what you have. It does not last forever. Treasure your parents and give them kind words of thanks and hugs.
@adoremay (2065)
• Philippines
22 May 08
YEs, I am very blessed becuase I have them.
@Anne18 (11029)
20 May 08
When I was a girl we all used to sit around the table and take our meal as a family. Now most my family sits around the table for a meal, we normally eat at around 5pm, its now getting later as the children are getting older. I like to sit around the table as it makes it nice to chat about hte day and what has ben going on at school, clubs and work. Sometimes due to afterschool clubs it is not possible to all eat together but I try to get everyone around the table to eat together at least five times a week. I think it is important to share the meal together and to hwelp each other with good table manners. Its nice when people come to lunch or dinner as we can get the big table out and set it posh and all sit around for a nice meal with family or friends.
• United States
20 May 08
It is good indeed to have family around the table. I am glad that you are continuing that practice.
1 person likes this
@nilzerous1 (2434)
• India
21 May 08
Me at 10.45-11.30pm. But obviously in healthy company of my family members. We share our stories of the day at that time and also use that gathering to take decisions in different family matters.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 May 08
I am glad that you and your family eat meals together and that you do share stories and make decisions there too... Hoping though that you reserve subjects that are tricky... like ones that may produce anger or sadness, like scoldings, etc. for a time away from the dinner table as they can cause stomach upsets. Wishing you and your family much joy.
@jhenn22 (1242)
• Philippines
21 May 08
same with me i live apart from my family because of my work....that's one thing i missed about my family....eating meals together and its our bonding time...usually i don't have exact time to eat my dinner...sometimes i have it anywhere...sometimes at the office with my officemates.
• United States
22 May 08
I am glad that you do take time to eat dinner... hoping that you will soon get the chance to visit family...hoping that you enjoy your meals wherever you eat them.
@marababe (2503)
• Philippines
21 May 08
I remember us having dinner at around 6-7pm. That's the time our maid will set-up the table. I always eat with my family when I was younger. But now, there are times that they eat dinner first cos I'm not hungry yet and I end up eating dinner alone.
• United States
22 May 08
Hoping that you try to eat with your family as much as possible as they do appreciate your company, I am sure, especially if you are kind to them.
@athinapie (1150)
• Philippines
21 May 08
Hi there! My family and I eat together as much as possible. We eat dinner before 6 pm. For others, it may be early but that's already a custom here in our house. We want the plates washed before 8 pm and the dog fed by then. There are times when we are incomplete but as much as possible we want to eat together because it is a bonding time for us.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 May 08
I am glad that you and your family eat together and that you always remember to feed the dog too. Wishing your family happiness.
@leateagee (3667)
• China
21 May 08
When I was still living with my mom, I always have these beautiful table setting too. She loves to cook and other household matters so she really has a lot of patience in doing these things eventhough she's a very busy woman. Every meal is very mportant to us especially that we are only two in our family. Now that I am away, she eats with her sister and I eat alone. I usually eat around 8 pm because my work finishes at half past seven. I just grab a bowl or a plate then a spoon for eating. Its totally different now. I usually eat in front of my computer. I always keep my mind in the computer while eating because I will surely miss the old days. I miss her now.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 May 08
Sorry about that missing... But glad that you have someone to miss... There are those who never had mothers that fixed those beautiful table settings... Wondering if perhaps you can get a flower or something else for yourself and maybe some nice napkins... There is no reason for you to not have a beautiful table even with inexpensive settings ... Nourish your needs for beauty along with your need for food. And think of your mom... She would want you to be happy. Hoping you will be able to visit her soon.
@jyjnl_jia (429)
• China
22 May 08
We have the similar experience.When i was young,i eat dinner with my famliy at about 6p.m .But now i have to eat dinner alone because i work in another city.As for the time,it is hard to say.It is up to the work.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 May 08
Wishing you friends who can become like family to you while you are away from yours... Thanks for posting.
• China
21 May 08
It depends, when I have a busy day,I will grab my supper and finish it in 4 minutes, but when I am free, I'd like to have supper with my family leisurely.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 May 08
Wishing you leisurely meals as it is better for your body to have them.
21 May 08
Usually alone. My parents go to sleep early cuz they are tired, so they eat about 6-7 o'clock. I eat at 8-9 even sometimes 10 o'clock. It's not very healthy though, eating late i mean. Also it's better to eat at the same time every day.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 May 08
I know about the eating late as I do it sometimes... Hoping that you do eventually come up with more regularity in your schedule.
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
21 May 08
Ever since my father landed for a job overseas, our family has never been complete. Me and as well as my siblings got our own jobs also, it's my mother who's the only one left at home. But we do have those times when I was still a kid, it's a family tradition that somehow passed our ways. Now, I only eat alone since my mother and sister where the one's who eats together.
• United States
21 May 08
I am sorry that your family got seperated that way... Hoping that you find friends to spend time with and that you spend time with family too.
• United States
21 May 08
When I'm home we usually eat pretty early and I hate it but I kind of live with it. Sometimes dinner is at 3:30 or 4 when I'm really not hungry at all. When I'm at school, I can go get dinner whenever I wish. Dinner at school is usually around 5 for me and my friends but sometimes we make it a bit earlier or later depending on what we're doing or what we have to do.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 May 08
You sound like you like the later eating times... probably because your stomach has gotten used to it from school.Thanks for posting.
@cortjo73 (6498)
• United States
21 May 08
I was raised the same way you were but, I eat alone during the weekdays because my hubby doesn't get home from work early enough. I make dinner for my hubby and I and then I eat it no later than 8 pm...usually before 7:30 because any later and I won't sleep well. So, it is just me, the TV, my dog and 3 cats! LOL!
1 person likes this
• United States
21 May 08
I am glad that you take care of yourself and make sure that you do what is best for your body and also that you care for your husband too... I am glad that you at least have company of the furry variety.
@coneest (168)
• Malaysia
21 May 08
Erm.... i always have dinner with my sister. Sometime friends. Time to have my meal, it all depends on tat day schedule. But normally is around 7 - 8.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 May 08
I am glad that you and your sister eat together. And that you eat with friends too. Enjoy yourself.
21 May 08
hi, when i was a child i was free of cares and we all just like to sit around the table and like to eat but now we all are young every bosy has his or her own timeing of jobs and every body has a diffrent scadual so now we can,t sit togather but i thing i realy miss that time because that was a fun
• United States
22 May 08
Thanks for posting here. I am hoping that you can find times to have fun again with your family.
• Philippines
21 May 08
i eat with my girlfriend. almost everyday. haha!
1 person likes this
• United States
21 May 08
I am glad that you eat with your girlfriend... It sounds like you are having some fun.