Why Meals@Home?
Because food matters. Because meals matter. Meals are full of meaning and significance but are also practical. Recent studies reveal that the single most decisive factor among kids who do well in school and avoid risky behaviors is eating meals with the family. As author Miriam Weinstein explains, “Sitting down to a meal together draws a line around us for a brief time and strengthens family bonds by shutting out the rest of the world as a powerful ritual against the many forces pulling us apart.”
Family meals give us a place to belong, a rhythm for health, and a moment of sanity! Below, you will find resources and opportunities we have made available for you to start being intentional about meal time with your family! You can start by picking up a free Meals@Home kit from the Faith@Home Center or downloading it by clicking on the button below!
Meals Together
Life is better in community when you’re among friends working intentionally together! The Meals@Home emphasis is all about families coming together to eat, but we don't want to stop there. We want our entire faith family to come together at the table! Be sure to post pics of you and your family being intentional and creative about having meals together using the hashtag #weemsmeals.
Meals@Home Guide
To help you revitalize and strengthen your family table, we have created the Meals@Home Guide available at the Faith@Home Center or here online. This guide will walk you through the vision of our Meals@Home emphasis and provide you with practical advice on how to be intentional in setting up dining rhythms for your family and even give you ideas on what to do during meal time. Click the image to download the Meals@Home Guide and start being intentional today!
Meals@Home Podcast
Recipe Cards for Meal Time Ideas
Want a fresh idea for meal time? Check out these Meal Time Chat Recipe Cards that are available for free from the Faith@Home Center or to download below and start being intentional about building a God-honoring home through your table!
Best Use
As a family activity with any age
Nutritional Value
Good conversation around the movie of your choice
Best Use
As a morning activity and dinner-time faith chat
Nutritional Value
Learning about God’s perfect timing
Best Use
As a mealtime discussion tradition
Nutritional Value
Infuse fun into family meals through laughter
Best Use
At any family meal where you can sit down at a set table
Nutritional Value
Playfully reinforcing the truth that design points to a Designer using everyday examples of order and complexity
Best Use
As a family cooking activity
Nutritional Value
Use this activity with any recipe to have fun making a special meal and fostering intentional conversation about the instructions God has for our lives
Best Use
As a “cheat sheet” for a parent trying to open up meaningful communication with his or her teen
Nutritional Value
Helps parents push past the sometimes awkward process of talking to a teenager by sincerely listening to what matters to them
Best Use
When trying a brand new dish or style of food
Nutritional Value
Learning about facing our fears by trying out new foods, talking about personal challenges and learning how God’s love conquers all
Best Use
As an activity while baking cookies together
Nutritional Value
Understanding how we are created in God’s image, yet each of us is unique and special
Best Use
As a family cooking activity
Nutritional Value
Use this activity to make a family spaghetti meal together and discuss how God gives us strength as we stand together
Best Use
As a breakfast meal chat (or “breakfast for dinner”)
Nutritional Value
Illustrating the Gospel and discussing our true status without Christ
Best Use
As a family cooking activity
Nutritional Value
An intentional time to talk about how God has made each one of us unique and special for His glory
Best Use
As a date night or evening snack activity once the kids are in bed (could also use as activity with kids with adjustments)
Nutritional Value
Appreciating how God uses the differences between each other to create something wonderful