The Family Dinner Book Review and Giveaway

When I was growing up we always sat at the dinner table to eat our meals, the only time we didn’t was if it was movie night then mom would let us sit in front of the TV, but we was together as a family. As the world becomes more advanced, we often forget about how important it is to sit down as a family for dinner. I know in my family I can say we do not eat together enough. With my husband having a crazy shift it is usually daughter and I figuring out what we are going to eat and most the time it is not even the same meal.  So when I had the opportunity to review The Family Dinner, I jumped on it. I want to learn more about bringing my family closer together and at the dinner table.

About The Family Dinner:

The producer of An Inconvenient Truth, Laurie David’s new mission is to help America’s overwhelmed families sit down to a Family Dinner, and she provides all the reasons, recipes and fun tools to do so.

Laurie David speaks from her own experience confronting the challenges of raising two teenage girls. Today’s parents have lots to deal with and technology is making their job harder than ever. Research has proven that everything we worry about as parents–from drugs to alcohol, promiscuity, to obesity, academic achievement and just good old nutrition–can all be improved by the simple act of eating and talking together around the table.

Laurie has written a practical, inspirational, fun (and, of course, green) guide to the most important hour in any parent’s day. Chock-full chapters include: Over seventy-five kid approved fantastic recipes; tips on teaching green values; conversation starters; games to play to help even the shyest family member become engaged; ways to express gratitude; the family dinner after divorce (hint: keep eating together) and much more. Filled with moving memories and advice from the country’s experts and teachers, this book will get everyone away from electronic screens and back to the dinner table.

What I thought:

If you are a follower of my blog, then you know I struggle with weight, and I have in the passed purchased mostly box meals. Recently, I have been doing research and trying to better my families eating habits by preparing meals by recipes, instead of by the back of a box. Sorry Hamburger Helper, even though I love you and you are quick and easy to make those pounds you are putting on my thighs cannot take it no more.

What I love about The Family Dinner Book is Laura not only gives you some great family fun game ideas to play while eating dinner together, she also gives you some awesome recipes to make for dinner. One of my favorite sections in The Family Dinner Book is section 9. Section 9 is about bringing the kids into the kitchen to help, as I stated above about the world becoming more advanced we often over look times we can be bonding with our children. What a better way to bond then to let them help us make dinner. Not only will they be on top of the world being able to help mom and dad, but it will make them feel special, and this will be those memories they can look back on when we are gone.

I want my daughter to speak highly of me to my grandchildren one day when I am gone when she is cooking with her babies in the kitchen. You know those “I remember when I was your age, and your grandma and I would make dinner for grandpa, and you know what grandma did to momma”, because believe it or not those fun times spent together as a family will mean so much more to your child then the money you have spent on them. Quality time is PRICELESS!

Healthy Kid Friendly Recipe from The Family Dinner Book, remember if you do not have kid friendly knives, parents do the chopping.

Homemade Onion Dip

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 cups dices onions

2 cloves garlic

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 1/2 cups Greek yorgurt (or low fat sour cream)

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon chopped chives

Salt and pepper

In a large nonstick pan drizzled with olive oil, saute the onions, and garlic over low heat until they are soft and caramelized, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool/

Mix the rest of the ingredients, and add the cooled onions. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

You can serve fresh veggies to make a nice healthy snack.

Mandatory: Head on over to The Family Dinner Book site and let me know something you learned.

More Extras:

Follow The Family Dinner on Twitter. (2 extra)

Like The Family Dinner on Facebook. The them know The Neat Things in Life sent ya. (2 extra)

Want Extras?
2. Follow me on Twitter. (2 extra)
3. Tweet the giveaway this can be done ONCE daily.

“Rt Enter to win a copy of The Family Dinner Book @Jammie79 http://tinyurl.com/2wfcvva ”

4. Follow my blog (2 entry)
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6. Subscribe to my blog. (2 entries)

7. Like me on facebook to the right. (2 extra)

8. Become a Network Blog Follower to the right. (2 extra)

9. Tell me why you want to win. (1 Daily.)

This giveaway will end November 15th @ 11:59pm CST. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or I will have to redraw a new winner. Winner is determined by And the Winner is… Open to U.S residents only.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review purposes only, I did not receive no other form of payment everything stated is my honest opinion.