Memories

Family Dinner

Food. There are so many memories associated with good meals and even bad ones.

Think back to some of your family food traditions. Whether your family was more like Leave It to Beaver or more like Married With Children, you had to eat. Maybe you had home cooked meals every night. Or your family could have been the take out or restaurant type. Regardless, you had to eat and you certainly carry some of those moments in your head and heart.

Most people look back fondly on those Happy Meals (even if they weren't very healthy) and playing in the blue ball pit. Maybe you even had a chance to see Ronald McDonald or Hamburglar at your local McDonalds. I know I did. I took my little cousins. One cried, because she was scared of Hamburglar. The other cried, because we had to leave before the scared cousin wet her pants or worse from fear.

Holiday meals. Now, those were something else. When everyone gets together, there's bound to be some fireworks to go with the turkey and dressing. I know I'll never forget the year that Granny flipped over in the rocking chair. She knocked down the Christmas tree and also managed to pour her gin and tonic in my tennis shoe. I only discovered that when I decided to go outside and play basketball with the neighbor kids.

It may be tempting to grab a biscuit in a bag and eat in the car on the way to work or to call in a pizza and eat in front of the TV. Heck, it's OK to do that sometimes. But, it's much more satisfying to focus on your food and use meal time for getting to know family and friends better.

You also have more control and can eat much healthier if you plan for meals instead of just letting them happen. You'll save money as well if you learn to cook some basic meals.

Make your meals memorable. You'll be glad you did when you look back.

Here are some of my favorite food stories:

Travel Food Memories

Collard Sandwiches at the Storytelling Festival of the Carolinas

Good Times with the Kids

Popcorn Snow (what a blast)

Group and Club Memories

Super Bowl Soup Party at the Church

Mountain Food Fun

Grandma's Magic Banana Trick
Chex Party Mix (Grandma's favorite snack)