How do you serve dinner

Plum_Pie

I think there's some research (originally about obesity) that shows (crudely put) people will eat the amount of food put on their plates. Hence the diet tip of using smaller plates.

I hadn't thought of it in the context of money-saving though - very interesting!

RibenaBerry_2

I have exactly the same effect in my house except, if we're having meat, we both eat more. With pasta, potato, rice, chilli, etc, it's always less.

Miss_Behaving

I have always put the food on the table so everyone can serve themselves - I found that when plating the children's meals, I would give them way too much and then feel rejected when they couldn't eat it... This way they take what they need and seem more inclined to try the more suspicious looking vegetables.

Firehorse

I tend to plate up in the kitchen with the children. So they tell me how much they want, then if they want more they can help themselves. This means they eat what's on their plates, because they have chosen.

Anything left over, is either recycled into another meal, or I freeze it into individual portions for myself when the children are visiting their dad. Using this method has saved me loads and always ensures that I eat properly when on my own.

livinginhope

Having been brought up abroad,putting the food on the table was always the way to go,my parents did this and now so do I,my shopping costs a fraction of my friends and I always over estimate on servings so have loads of 'ready meals' in the freezer.

Pink.

Hi badgermonkey,

There's an older thread on the same subject that should help so I've merged yours with it to keep all the replies together.

Pink

sandieb

I plate meals up when just the two of us - use the table and always light candles.

prudencekitten

My first husband and I were both working class and brought up in the tradition of food plated-up in the kitchen and brought to the table. However, one day we were invited to Sunday lunch by posh acquaintances who said "I do hope you don't mind but we are having it bistro-style today." We were so intrigued, but have you guessed it? It was plated up like us common folk normally have! It became a family joke.

Hardup_Hester

Well I was going to say I serve dinner in the nude, but then realised that wasn't what was being asked.
I always serve food in bowls for us to help our selves from & we always eat at the table.
It must be a culture shock for hubby tho, he & his ex ate on their laps with spoon & fork!!!
I'm a snob, lol.
Hester

hrdolly

My son and his partner also have a name for a particular type of meal - they call it a 'dirty tea' and would normally consist of something like Bernard Matthews turkey escalopes, chips and beans. This could of course be made less dirty by having new potatoes and peas.