What Do You Eat for Dinner on a Typical Weeknight?

Sep 30, 2019 · 68 comments
giovani speights (classrom 327)
last week my mom made porkchops and rice with gravy and this week i will make bbq fried chicken corn and rice like on my birthday
Anna Q. (Fountain Valley High School)
A weeknight dinner is usually at 5:30 or 6:00 pm. My siblings and I are tasked with setting the table every night. We are met with a wide variety of food from day to day. My mom is the one who cooks in my house and she spoils us with her many diverse homemade meals. Our meals range from fish tacos to soup and bread, homemade pizza, giant salads, pastas, and stir fry. Most of the time we sit down as a whole family. We always pray before eating and then talk over the meal until it is time to clear dishes and clean up. My dad usually does the dishes or assigns one of us kids to help him. Leftovers, no matter how small, are always packaged up for someone to eat the next day because my family does not waste any food. Our meal time is then concluded.
B. Mai (Fountain Valley High School)
An essential food seen typically in my family’s day-to-day dinners is rice. The main dishes that can be paired with rice can range from flavors of savory to even bitter! Meats go especially well with rice, for instance, stir-fried beef or air-fried pork chops. Vegetables are also a staple in balancing the nutritional needs within our meals, which may typically include cucumbers, bell peppers, and broccoli. The simplicity of rice perfectly counters, but at the same time, complements the flush of flavors. To finally top off our dinner is a fork to the large platter of freshly-cut fruits (cut by my parents) which may be filled with watermelons, pineapples, or cantaloupe.
Nikita (New york)
Meal time is one of the best ways to spend time with family while also celebrating one's heritage. There were many cultures mentioned like Mexico and France which showed the different cultural.
Kathryn Hotle (Roy C Ketcham High School)
For majority, I feel that dinner time is when everyone comes together and enjoys each others company while having a home cooked meal. You all are around the table and go over your days, what you have coming up, and how you feel. It’s when you create mementoes over delicious food. There are many that have specific Roy tubes but it’s not the same for all.
J.M Block 4 (Hoggard High School)
For most, mealtime is a time for everyone to come together and enjoy each other's company. We usually gather around the table, sharing stories and catching up on each other's days. It's a special moment where we can bond and create lasting memories over delicious food. This is structured for most. However, I understand that every family is unique and may have different mealtime routines. For example, mealtime for me is very lonely. I eat in my room most of the time, as my mom might not be hungry or available to eat at the same time, and for my dad, he is in his gaming room watching some sports games. My sister moved away a few weeks ago, so it's just me and my parents at home now. Despite the lack of shared mealtime, we still find ways to connect and spend quality time together in other ways. It may not be the traditional way of gathering around the table, but it allows me to have some alone time and enjoy my meals in peace.
Ben (New York)
It's important to look at the norms of other cultures to avoid making mistakes due to a lack of awareness for alternatives. In the case of this article, alternative food options are what we need to be aware of. What we fill our body with has a big impact on other aspects of our life such as energy mental clarity and our emotions. Unfortunately, many people do not understand this correlation. Some cultures have dinners that emphasize nutrition more than others, this is why we must assess all our options and choose the ones that benefit our body most.
Laboujienata Diallo (New York, New York)
The family that intrigues me the most and maybe the one that seems more relevant to how my family and I spend our dinner time is the Charles Family from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. My family and I normally stick with our Guinean heritage when it comes to family meals because it is what fills us up the most and makes us reminiscent of home. I normally clean up and clean the dishes with my little sister after we eat as a family. We tend to sit on the floor and rarely do we ever sit around at a table, because it is not how traidtional Guinean houselholds enjoy their meals together.
Carter Moses (Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC)
In my house my family almost always eats at the table together unless someone is out of town or at work or sports. during week nights a lot of times we are all busy because of my sports or their work so this causes us to have to eat out sometimes but we try to cook as much as we can and sit together and talk about our days. on weekends we usually always eat at home and my parents cook a good meal on most Sunday's because of the football and everything. i would say that i like how my family does our dinners because not all family's sit together any more or have home cooked meals
Chloerose Ratcliff (Hoggard High School Wilmington, NC)
Almost every night of the week my mother makes my family homemade meals, some nights we do go out to eat but that usually happens on the weekends, when we have more time. She sets out dinner plates and silverware for us to each make our own plate, tonight we had T-bone steak with french bread and salad. On most weeknights, we all have different busy schedules that don’t allow us to sit down at the dining room table and eat all together so we typically have dinner at the kitchen counter. When we are finished with our plate we put it in the dishwasher and help clean up by putting away the butter or the salt. After reading the article I found that the dinner with the family in Lima, Peru was the most interesting because their dinner was prepared by their housekeeper.
Mollie Brinker (Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC)
Depending on who is at home that night, we all take turns making dinner for the family, and normally eat around 6:30. We make some sort of vegetable, grain, and protein. I’m vegan, so my mom usually tries to buy things for our family that I can eat too, even if my dad and brother would rather eat pizza. Dinner is especially enjoyable when the four of us get to sit down together. We have a no-phones-at-the-table rule, and we’ve had this for as long as I can remember, so I actually don’t know the reasoning behind it, but it seems to work well for us. We talk about our day, current events, and make each other laugh. Max, my brother, always has a topic on his mind… whether it be metaphysics related, about his recent oil painting, or something his favorite philosopher said during the podcast he listened to that morning (and he is especially talkative if he helped himself to a afternoon cup of coffee). My mom tells us about the friends she saw on her walk or the news article that sparked her interest. My dad describes the landscape from his hotel in Belgium or the hilarious SNL skit he saw earlier that day. I tell my family about my math test in 1st period or a funny story my friend told me during practice that day. This last meal of the day really brings us all together and fills the house with laughter. I love spending time with my family and hope this ‘tradition’ continues as long as it can, because those are the moments you remember for a lifetime.
el.nueve (french (paris))
I have a family that like eating, so for family events we organize many meals. But for the weeknight, my mother prepare the couscous accompanied of vegetale
sahraoui (courbevoie)
My mom prepares dinner every day after her work day. we eat in the dining room. I don't often eat because when I'm tired I'm not hungry. I will occasionally help my mom cook, we do simple things like pasta with chicken. I love eating this. During the week we don't really have a dinner familiy, but at the weekend I eat whith my family because my mom prepares a typical Algerian meal.
elfi (paris)
we usually have our typical dinner at 7 pm my family and I eat braised chicken, salads with plantain bananas. young people have juice while the older ones have beer. during the dinner we talk about our personal experiences, future projects.
Ainsley Woodruff (Hoggard High School : Wilmington, NC)
My Family very rarely eats together, on the slim chance we do eat together it's really weird. My parents both cook about the same.The amount is really the only difference my dad normally cooks for bigger groups when we have multiple people friends or family over. When my mom cooks it's normally just for me and her because my sister and my dad are so picky. I could probably relate the french family the most. We don’t do a lot of crazy lot from scratch cooking it’s normally more ready to eat food. With everyone in our family being on different schedules, it's extremely difficult to align times for us all to eat.
Solie Jackson (Cody, Wyoming)
My parents are divorced so who prepares my meal depends on which house I’m at. When I am at my dads house, he prepares dinner. I have dance every night usually ending from anywhere from eight to nine, so I eat dinner late. At each house my parent usually eats without me but companies me while I am eating. My mom hates when I eat alone, but since she has to get up at four a.m. for her job, she sometimes will already be asleep. At my moms, I will have to prepare my own dinner sometimes. At my dads house we eat a lot of pasta, pizza and other italian dishes. My mom is on a diet, so we eat lots of quinoa, chicken and salad there. Dinner is the only meal I regularly eat, so it is a crucial meal for me. I think my family has most in common with the family from Mexico. My dad and my mom take turns making me dinner, because they are divorced. Also their food sounded most appealing to me, it just sounded so good. The quote rings very true to my family. The only real time I get to spend with my parents is at dinner sometimes not even then due to dance. But, that's the time I get to talk to my parents, and we discuss all the important aspects of our lives that we would not have to share otherwise.
Grace (Cody Wyoming)
In comparison to the other families in this article, I would have to say that there are many similarities. My family usually eats in the evening, ranging from 5-7 p.m., depending on if I have practice that day, or how long practice lasts that day. The family in Mexico had the most appealing dinner selection to me because I love Mexican cuisine. My mother is always the one cooking because my father doesn't really know how to cook something other than Ramen Noodles. I will occasionally help my mom cook, but for the most part we all like to do our own thing, whether that be I go to my room, sit at the table, or sit in the living room. We don't have a traditional "sit down" family dinner. Some days when my mother doesn't feel like cooking, or if she's sick, she'll get use take out food like wendy's. I swear my mom is the best cook. I always tell her to open a restaurant because it's that good. On a typical weekday, she'll make something easy like chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn. But some days she will surprise us with a master piece!
Laura (Cody, Wyoming)
Honestly I didn't see many things my family has in common with the others in the article, my family occasionally eats together but when we do someone is usually not happy about it. We also eat around 9p.m. at night unlike the Charles family in Haiti. However, we are alike to the Devouge family in Paris because we tend to eat leftovers a lot. Usually my dad makes food, occasionally I will. The dinner my family makes that appeals to me the most has got to be the vegetable stir-fry and other various oriental dishes. I just love the spices in this culture's food. Honestly, my family usually makes noodle dishes such as Spaghetti and Stir-fry, I just love them both so much. We don't actually eat "traditionally" American foods all that often. Usually my dad makes the food in our family and I don't really play a role, though occasionally I will plan something out and help the process along. We don't really eat out that often due to money issues, but when we do It is usually from a local Thai restaurant or Domino's. Normally my family talks briefly at the dinner table though I'd say that we also, more normally, break off for dinner and go watch a movie or work on homework respectively.
Sophie Baker (CHS, in Cody WY)
What do I eat for dinner? Because both of my sisters have left for college our typically dinner night has changed somewhat also because I work some weeknights that changes the dinner plans as well. On a night where I am not working we will have streak, hamburgers, and any other type of meat meal you can think of. Mexican meals are also very very popular within my household and we have it about once a week. On nights where I am working I'm left to fend for myself so I'll just eat something at work or go home and cook mac and cheese. Durning the weekends my parents have a date night so Saturdays are also another night I'm left to figure out what to eat. Sundays are family day so we get together with my grandparents and eat dinner at their house for that night. My grandma is a very random cooker and there is not really a consistency with what we have it could range from Italian all the way to the most basic meal ever.
hannah (comet)
What do I eat for dinner? On a usual night I’m at my friends house to have dinner , I never really know what I’m going to get. Sometimes his mom doesn’t want to cook so we go out and mostly we like to eat Taco Bell , Fazolies and Panda Express. Yet when we do eat together we always sit in a big oval table and we play this game where we ask random questions from a card. Mostly questions like what's your favorite animal or the best sight you’ve ever seen , then we go around the table and every answers the question. If I’m eating at my house then my mom likes to make pastas , and anything with meat , we never sit down at the table together. Usually my parents watch TV and eat in the living room and I eat in my room. Then one of us always cleans the dishes after , we also had a tradition that I think most families follow which is when it's your birthday you get to pick what's for dinner. I always pick steak and mashed potatoes.
Zach Comet (HHHS)
On weeknights we usually either get take-out from a restaurant or find something in the pantry. I would say dinner is the most substantial meal of the day because it tastes the best and I get less calories and nutrients than I do from school food. When my family eats at home I usually cook pasta or chicken or something like that. Sometimes my grandma sends me home with dinner for myself, mom, and brother.
Julia Flynn (Middletown South HS in Middletown NJ.)
My family tries to eat dinner together as much as possible. However, we are all always home at different times with sports, school, and jobs. We all are hungry and home at all different times of the night. Normally on a weeknight we will all just grab a plate of food that is left out by my mom when we are ready to eat. My mom usually cooks dinner because my dad works in the city, so he doesn't get home until later. She usually makes some sort of pasta or chicken. I try to help out with dinner, but by the time I get home it is usually already ready, so it is difficult for me to help out as much as I would like. Sometimes we will get takeout or go out to eat, but that is usually on the weekends. Finally, the meal in Haiti was the most interesting to me because their main meal is midday and they usually eat together and pray every time, which most families don't have much time for.
Ben C. (MHSS)
My family and I try to eat at least 1 meal together each day. However, with very tight schedlues it simply isn't possible to follow that rule every day. From my sports to my sister's dance, we are always on the move and never have time to just sit down and have a meal together. Although, when we get that rare moment, we try to sit down for at least 30 minutes or so and eat a home-cooked meal
Ryan Boaz (Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC)
Eating together in my family is a rare occurrence. Everyone is on different schedules and finding the time where everyone can eat is challenging. My mom and dad eat at completely polar times, and I find my myself eating sometime between them. I don’t mind it though because the times when we do eat together is often uncomfortable and there will be long periods of awkward silence. We just don’t have enough to talk about, and it is really difficult to participate in a forced conversation. My mother wishes that we would eat as a family, a tradition of her family when she was growing up. I see that tradition beginning to deteriorate in most families nowadays, and I don’t see it for the better. Although I am not the biggest fan of family dinners, but I think they are important for a family to feel whole. No matter the hardships someone may go through during the day, that family dinner gives them the ability to reconnect to their loved ones and express the way they are feeling. Authentic human interactions seen at family dinner is lost in my family, and maybe if we ate together this wouldn't be the case.
Henry Leonard (Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC)
The pizza is arguably the greatest weeknight food, you get home from school/ work and the last thing you want to do is make food. Instead you can just call up your favorite pizza place and get your meal. Pizza is also one of the most customizable meals out there. You want meat? Put it on there you want artichoke? Well you're set. The cost efficiency of the pizza is also really good for a delivered meal. A large pizza from Papa Johns, delivery fee, tax and all, runs for about twenty dollars. Then you can eat a large pizza for two meals so you're set for lunch the next day as well. Divide that out and a ten dollar dinner isn't that bad. While it's a once a week type thing it still will always taste good and will never get old.
Hope Heinrichs (Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC)
The flow of the week always changes. My family and I have schoolwork or sports or work, but there's still time for us to sit down together and have a meal. I can smell the aroma of food and my mom or dad cooking in the kitchen. The image we spend so long to protect during school and work shatters, and we are real. We reveal the highs and lows of our day and talk to each other. I could never imagine eating dinner at the table alone or taking my food to eat in my room. I long for human companionship and need to share my life with someone. Our dinners together do that. The meal may change, and I might dislike the food. Instead of my favorite meal of parmesan chicken and delicious noodles, it might end up being meatloaf and brussel sprouts. The thing is that's okay because it's not about what we eat, but it's the people who eat with you.
Megan Comet (HHHS)
My family and I often spend dinner together. However, with having a child in many extracurricular activities, eating as a family can be quite challenging. I don’t relate to a certain group of people listed in the article. My mother normally makes dinner, and it’s my dads job to set and clear the table when we are done. The most appealing family was from France. Maybe this was because, I do often have leftovers for dinner too. Sometimes it’s all that a family can afford, or they are trying not to waste good food. Dinner in our house is the most important meal of the day. This is where we talk about what happened during the day, and set plans for who has to do what the following day. Although my father doesn’t work, my mother is still the one who makes dinner almost every night. Weeknights are often busy due to having practices for sports, meetings for work, and games or meets. We, as a family, eat out at least once during a weeknight, however; it normally happens at least two times a week. During the winter, most Fridays is when my mother brings dinner home for us. This often happens because she works nine hour days, and goes grocery shopping. She doesn’t want to get home late, then still have to make dinner. It’s more convenient for her just to grab something on the way home.
Sydney Comet (HHs)
I usually have some type of meat for dinner like chicken, beef, or pork. My favorite is dinner is chicken or something that has to do with pasta. Most nights my family is on the go,with sports and other activity so we have a quick fast food meal. I usually have to help get dinner ready so I rather make it or just help my mom or dad. My family eats dinner at restaurants a lot which I'm fine with it because it’s good.
Nicole B. (Bryant High School, Arkansas)
Like all the families in the article, my family eats together as much as possible. We all sit down, pray, and enjoy our dinner while talking to each other. We usually eat out maybe once- on a night that we are super busy- and that it for the week. Usually I do not play a big role in making dinner or getting ready for dinner because I don't get home until 6:00 or 6:30, and then I have to start on homework. Because of this my mom or my grandparents, who live with us, do most of the cooking and preparing every night. When Katia Barragán says "All the important things are discussed, celebrated and mourned around food," it reminds me of my own family dinners. We always are talking about something going on in the world, whether it is religion, politics, etc.. There is never a dull moment where we aren't talking about something big going on. Recently, we have been talking about the impeachment deal surrounding President Trump. Our conversations usually are determined by what's going on in the world around us and how that affects us. There have been times where we get so involved into whatever the conversation is about that we have finished eating and didn't even realize it.
Rebecca Comet (HHHS)
My dad leaves the state and goes overseas every three months (he goes overseas for three months, he’s home for three months, and the cycle repeats) for work so when my dad’s not home, it’s just my mom and I in the house. My mom and I don’t do anything special for dinner when my dad’s not home. A majority of the time, we don’t eat together at the dinner table. I usually eat in my room while my mom eats at the dinner table. Home-cooked meals aren’t really that common when it’s just my mom and I. Home-cooked meals are more common when my dad is home and it’s the three of us sitting at the dinner table eating together. When my dad’s not home, I usually eat a frozen dinner that I warmed up, and my mom usually eats a big salad that she prepares for herself. Sometimes, my mom will prepare a home-cooked meal for her and I and we’ll eat dinner at the dinner table together, but that’s not really that common.
Seth Comet (HHHS)
My family doesn't really do anything special, for the most part, we all sit at the table and talk about what important things are going on in our lives and what happened over the course of the day. The most appealing dinner to me is the family in France that ate the chicken. After dinner, I usually take care of the family's dishes and then either do them then or the next day after school. My family doesn't really do anything special, for the most part, we all sit at the table and talk about what important things are going on in our lives and what happened over the course of the day. The most appealing dinner to me is the family in France that ate the chicken. After dinner, I usually take care of the family's dishes and then either do them then or the next day after school.
kAFALE RIVERS (SARASOTA FLORIDA)
I mainly eat chicken or fast food but never really have a sit down meal to eat on the regular basis so my dinner meal is never regular.
Alex Comét (HHHS)
My family and the families featured in the article have some things in common. When my family eats, we all eat around the table. We often talk while we eat. The most appealing dinner option is the one in France. It is the most appealing because they are having chicken for dinner and you can go wrong with chicken. Dinner is the best meal of the day. I often eat the most at dinner. My parents cook and I usually have to clear off the table. Sometimes my parents will bring home some food from a restaurant. At the table, my mother often interviews me about my day. More of an interrogation than an interview.
Izumi comet (HHHS)
Dinner is the most substantial meal of the day for me. My family eats dinner together everyday.So dinner is the most important time during the day for me. My family tends to eat rice, miso soup and some side dishes for dinner.
Nick Comet (HHHS)
It changes every weekend usually. But if i had one that was dinner that comes along often would probably homemade pizza. We will probably make those every two to three weeks.
skylar comet (HHHS)
For dinner I eat food just like everyone else. I eat anything and everything for dinner because it really doesn't matter. Tacos, Hamburgers, nachos, Spaghetti and anything else one can think of. This is the same I feel for mostly all Americans as we have such a diverse style anyone can eat almost anything they want at anytime they want. It is possible for anyone to go a month and not eat the same thing twice just because of how many different kinds of things we have with several different cultures all in one place.
cayla2020 (comets)
Usually for dinner i drink a shake, we own lakeside nutrition and that all we sell is protein shakes. There are probably over 100 different kinds of shakes and I love them. They are also really good for you. On a day when my family isn't busy which is rare my mom will make us a really good meal. She likes to make steak with potatoes.
Kaden Comet (HHHS)
My mother has always been very busy my entire life, leaving me to feed myself. I’m not a crazy good cook but I’m not that bad either. I usually can just pull out some freezer food and feed myself. Sometimes I try to get creative and it actually turns out pretty good. I actually enjoy cooking most of the time.
Lucas Comet (HHHS)
My family is extremely lucky, because we almost never have the same dinner twice in the same week. One night might be tacos, the next could be hot dogs. My mom usually cooks with the help of the rest of us, but sometimes my dad cooks something as well. We always eat together, unless someone is sick or travelling. When we’re done, everyone (except my brother) takes care of their own dishes, and we put it in the dishwasher or sink.
Caleb Comet (Hanover Horton)
On a typical weeknight I don't get the opportunity to eat dinner in my own home. I’m usually working until close because my managers asks me to close with him. So I end up eating either pizza or bread for dinner hiding from the cameras at work. As much as I enjoy pizza I don't like eating it for dinner 4 or 5 days out of the week.
Braedon Comet (HHHS)
Most of the time what I eat for dinner all depends on weather or not i’m at my mom or dad's house. Typically when I am at my moms house I have spaghetti one of the nights. Next she will cook this meal called shepherd’s pie and it is amazing. Then we usually get pizza for the other night. When I am at my dads house one of the night we always do pasta. Then one of the other nights what we do is cook chicken and rice or we barbecue some burgers or chicken.
Joe Comet (HHHS)
On a typical weekend day i will eat a lot of chips, candy, chocolate, and hamburgers. I will also drink tea, usually peach, which is a really great drink. I'll drink pop every once in a great while. When I go to a friends house I eat lots and lots of chips. Also eat a lot of cereal for like a snack.
Sophie, Comet (Hanover Horton)
When it comes to dinner my family will either make dinner or we will go out. We normally eat basic meals that any other family would eat. Also being the last child in my house we often just make food ourselves maybe twice a week. Or we will go to a restaurant or have food delivered to us.
EmilyComet (HHHS)
I usually eat some type of pasta or meat. And we always have a vegetable with our meal. My mom doesn’t cook as good as she did when my siblings still lived at home. Also, we are finishing moving into my new home, so we are still getting into a routine. Sometimes it’s fend for yourself, while other times its venison, potatoes, and brussel sprouts.
Holly Marcus (Hinsdale Central)
Being the only child left in my household, I have to say my mom has not been cooking as often as she did while I was younger. When my two older brothers still lived at home my mom made a variety of meals throughout the week. Whether that was the simple Spaghetti and Meatballs or my personal favorite, Chicken Piccata, I was always looking forward to dinner and so were my brothers. However my brothers now that they are attending college are cooking for themselves, or at least trying to. While back at home my mom makes the same two meals every week. Grilled Chicken or soup. And we eat those two meals throughout the week as leftovers. In fact I just had left over chicken noodle soup last night. It was a bonus because it had grilled chicken in it from the night before! Now please don't get me wrong, I love my mom's cooking and I give her credit that she still somehow manages to get food on the table even after working her four jobs. But I have to say, I do miss my mom's chicken piccata once in a while.
Carter Osborn (Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC)
Living in a house of five (My brother, father, grandparents, both of which were born in the early 1930s, and I), my family's dinner ritual is incredibly traditional. We plan our meals around everyone's schedules, but no matter what, we always end up eating as a family every single night. In my opinion, I wish we would break from this tradition. We usually eat the same foods, such as steak, pork tenderloin, salad, fish, tacos, and we never really have much to talk about anymore. Our dinners can often be full of silence or forced conversation, and I am usually left deep in my thoughts of why my family feels the need to be together all the time. While most people enjoy the company of their families because they normally do not eat together, my family eating together has made me feel isolated and stuck with the lingering thought of "Why can't my family be normal for once?".
Arman Akbar (Hinsdale Central)
I mostly eat home cooked meals with the occasional fast food or fine dining sprinkled in. The content of my dinners my parents cook varies each night. From Indian food such as biryani and dal to foods such as fajitas or meatloaf. When my family eats dinner we all generally eat together. The only exception is if I have a lot of homework to the point where I either skip dinner or just eat later. Generally my mom will cook one or two meals a week which we will eat throughout the whole week. At the dinner table we usually take that time to talk to each other as we were generally doing our own things in the former half of the day. My dad will almost always cook eggs on weekends for breakfast which I didn't like when I was younger but as I ate his eggs more and more each weekend I became accustomed to the taste and even grew a liking towards eggs. I also get complaints from my parents for eating my food way too fast.
Holly Marcus (Hinsdale Central)
Being the only child left in my household, I have to say my mom has not been cooking as often as she used to. When my two older brothers still lived at home my mom made a variety of meals throughout the week. Whether that was the simple Spaghetti and Meatballs or my personal favorite, Chicken Piccata, I was always looking forward to dinner and so were my brothers. However my brothers now that they are attending college are cooking for themselves, or at least trying to. While back at home my mom makes the same two meals every week. Grilled Chicken or soup. And we eat those two meals throughout the week as leftovers. In fact I just had left over chicken noodle soup last night. It was a bonus because it had grilled chicken in it from the night before! Now please don't get me wrong, I love my mom's cooking and I give her credit that she still somehow manages to get food on the table even after working her four jobs. But I have to say, I do miss my mom's chicken piccata once in a while.
Holly Marcus (Hinsdale Central)
Being the only child left in my household, I have to say my mom has not been cooking as often as she used to. When my two older brothers still lived at home my mom made a variety of meals throughout the week. Whether that was the simple Spaghetti and Meatballs or my personal favorite, Chicken Piccata, I was always looking forward to dinner and so were my brothers. However my brothers now that they are attending college are cooking for themselves, or at least trying to. While back at home my mom makes the same two meals every week. Grilled Chicken or soup. And we eat those two meals throughout the week as leftovers. In fact I just had left over chicken noodle soup last night. It was a bonus because it had grilled chicken in it from the night before! Now please don't get me wrong, I love my mom's cooking and I give her credit that she still somehow manages to get food on the table even after working her four jobs. But I have to say, I do miss my mom's chicken piccata once in a while.
Cassidy Smith (Hinsdale Central)
My family always eats together. Each night my mom makes dinner while my dad is coming home from work. My parents make it a priority to eat together, regardless of homework. The only exceptions are when we have sports, or are out with friends. I enjoy eating dinner as a family because it gives us all a time to talk. My brother and I barely talk, so eating together every night brings us closer. Normally we either eat chicken, pasta, steak, or pork. Once in a while, we will eat leftovers if everyone is busy one night. Sometimes my dad will be at work late, so my mom and I will go out to eat on a weeknight. It's more common for my family to eat out over the weekend when we are all busy. After eating, we all help clear the table, but my dad always does the dishes.
Nathan Hackney (Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC)
My family is one of those families that never does the same thing twice. My parents want to show us as much of the world as they can in the little 18 year window in which they have full jurisdiction. This definitely applies to our family dinner. With the exception of spaghetti, my family almost never has the same meal twice (or the meals are at least spaced out by a good few months). This is partly from my mother’s drive to outdo and compete with herself, but also because my family’s favorite way to spend dinner is eating something new, especially in a restaurant setting. There’s just something about the way we bond from trying something new in a new environment, together. As you can probably imagine, with a large 6 (almost 7)member family, and a toddler that the word energetic does not even begin to describe being one of the defining members, restaurants can be ... well ... good bonding time. As our family talks about our day and laughs together, we often get into deep, thought-provoking conversations that end up as competitions involving nonchalant but passionate arguments such as pēˌkan or pəˈkän, the breed of dispute that is unlike all the others in that it pulls a family closer and creates teams simultaneously. And just as a family of extroverts would do, family dinner usually ends in us asking strangers to say the word pecan.
Nike Niesen (Hinsdale Central High school)
Every day when I get home from school, I ask my mom, "What's for dinner?" I love my mom's cooking, which during the week days consists of some sort of pasta I don't know how to name. There will often be beef tacos, chicken fajitas, and there's a lot of different types of chicken my mom makes, and then every Friday night, we'll order a pizza from Guilliano's in town. I usually eat dinner at 5pm, which is early for a lot of people, but forth period lunch is brutal. By the end of the school day, I'm just about ready to east anything I see.
Ashwin Menon (Hinsdale Central)
My family usually eats leftovers from whatever we cooked over the weekend (we cook a lot of food). That usually gets us through the week, ignoring the times we go out to eat. It usually consists of Indian food (daal, chapati, rice, keema, aloo gobi, etc.). Essentially, that translates to lentil, tortilla, rice (obviously), beef, and potato-cauliflower curry, respectively. I usually have very balanced meals with most of my family (mom flies to D.C. every week for work), and I personally eat a lot due to the fact that my life involves a lot of physical activity. I love food a lot, and Indian food especially, so it never feels repetitive to me. I'm also the type of person who doesn't hate airplane food, so if that helps you understand more, power to you. I also like to cook due to that love of food, so i try to help my mom and dad when possible.
Bridget Kallas (Hinsdale Central)
Every single night my mother prepares a meal for my family and I. These aren't frozen meals or meals that she orders and puts on a platter to make it look like her own. She goes to the grocery store and buys the ingredients that she needs to make us enchiladas, chicken salad, chili, meatloaf, or soup. I come home every night from practice starving and looking forward to eating whatever meal she has ready for me. One might think, She’s a mom-that's what she is supposed to do. And as sexist and out of date that thought is, if a mom isn’t working then taking care of her family is expected to be her full time job. However, my mom is a dermatologist that works four days a week. When i get home from school I eat what my mom makes me but when my mom comes home from work she cooks so that I can eat when I demand it. Is she hungry when she gets home from work? Probably.
Zaia Parks (Hinsdale Central)
My family eats whenever we want. It has been months since we all 4 sat down together and ate a meal. My mom works from home and will usually make food during the day and my sister and I will eat it as soon as we get home because I am hungry when I get home. Besides that meal, I will make my own food for the rest of the day. My dad and I both go to the gym to work out so that's why we never eat together as a family because he gets home really late when he goes to the gym 3 days a week. Usually, he will get home at around 6:30 but when he works out he will be home at 9. I don't mind not eating together. In fact, I prefer not eating as a family. I talk to my parents and sister enough throughout the day that I don't see it as a time to talk. I like to eat my meals quickly so I can have time to do homework and workout. My family eats out together on weekends usually and I enjoy it because I have free time.
Kelsey Condon (Hinsdale, IL)
I almost never make my food. My mom almost always makes dinner for us when my whole family eats together. She makes all kinds of food and she loves to cook. She says it's "relaxing". Even though it's fun to eat with my whole family, I like it better though when just me and my mom are the only ones who eat together because my siblings or my stepdad are busy. Usually when it's just the two of us we go out to eat or pick something up. I've come to think of this as something we do together. Usually we get something fast like sushi but we still get extra time together without my sisters and sometimes that's even more special to me than the food she makes herself, while she might disagree.
Quinn McCarty (Hinsdale. IL)
My weeknights have always been varied, but recently it's been getting more difficult to enjoy a meal with the entirety of my family due to a few problems between my parents. I only get to have a real dinner with my family once a month, and it isn't at home. We usually go out. During my week, a normal meal at home would be the home cooking from my grandmother, who recently moved in with us because of some health issues. She is an avid cook who specializes in Korean dishes, but she can also make food from other Asian cuisine. It's probably the only time we all spend together, because I'm always doing homework and my mom works a lot for her law firm. It's a precious time, and I'm glad we have good food to enjoy while we're together.
Kamryn Queen (Hoggard High School- Wilmington, NC)
I’m an only child, but my family could not have any different schedules. We are constantly on the go, so weeknight dinners don’t happen as often as we would like them to. With me having practice, my dad being a coach who’s practices start right after mine, and my mom’s office building being across town, it’s most of the time not easy to all sit down and have a cooked meal together. A typical week-night meal for my family honestly depends on the day, and all of our schedules. Most of the time we just whip up something at home like a sandwich or a cheese quesadilla- but some nights we don’t get home until late, so we resort to driving through a fast food restaurant (which is not ideal, but it happens). But then we have a lucky night or 2 during the week when our schedules line up and my dad has time to cook, which is something a lot healthier like grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, salad, bread etc.- which I’d prefer having a lot more often.
Hogan Meiser (Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC)
The meals that my family and I tend to eat for dinner are leftovers from the weekend, frozen pizzas, quesadillas, spaghetti and meatballs, and casseroles along with some fruits or vegetables. The reason it is not that fancy is because my family is non-stop and there isn’t much time to prepare a quality supper. Due to a busy schedule and sports, we all eat at different times. We do tend to eat out once a week, and that is when my family and I all sit and eat together. I think when we sit down and eat, it is the best time my family interacts and gets long. Dinner is the most substantial meal for me because it is the one meal that I can break away from the piles of homework and relax. Times have really changed. Dinners have gone from families gathering nightly, to once a week for our family.
Annika L (Hoggard High School Wilmingtion NC)
The article I read was titled. "What do You Eat for Dinner on a Typical Weeknight?" Almost every night my family eats dinner together, my dad works on Mondays and Wednesdays so he's only home for dinner sometimes. But whether he is home or not my mom, my little brother and I have dinner together. My mom and I don't eat meat and my mom is gluten free, so we end up making 2 or sometimes 3 different meals. My mom usually cooks dinner while I do my homework. And we eat around 7, I usually have a pasta dish, rice and vegetables or a homemade pizza. At the dinner table, we talk about things we did that day or what we are learning about in school. We aren't allowed to have phones at the table because it is a time to be device free and talk to our family members in person.
Sophia Caparelli (Hoggard Highschool in Wilmington, NC)
For someone like me who is constantly on the go, sitting down and having dinner with my family is extremely important to me. This is one of the only times during the day that we are all together and talking about our days. I feel as though dinner is a place to unwind and relax as well as spend quality time with my loved ones. Of course, this meal isn’t always the same or perfectly scheduled out. Sometimes there are nights where we eat to-go, not all together, homemade dinner, go out for a nice dinner, eat dinner on the road, and so many more variations of this. Regardless, dinner is a very important meal in the sense of getting nutrients after a long day and bonding with your family.
Olivia Tank (2/2) (Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC)
Dinner in my family is viewed as a practically sacred time. Both of my parents have full time jobs with demanding hours, and all three of us kids have extensive extracurriculars throughout the week. As a family, we know that time together is important, but time is harder and harder to find as us kids grow older. We still prioritize eating dinner as a family, and it gives us the ability to discuss everything we want. Because of the busy lifestyle my family carries out, our dinners are very late. On average, we eat as a family at around nine or nine thirty, sometimes even later. We often joke about the seemingly impossible task for us to eat early. We do find ourselves complaining about the time on occasion, but we all accept the fact that we are much happier eating as a complete unit. There are some nights in which we truly are unable to prepare a meal and eat it at a time that is “reasonable” for us. In these nights we pick up food individually or in pairs. However, it just doesn’t feel right when we eat separately no matter how ridiculous our dinner time may seem from an outside point of view. I would much rather eat a home meal with my family late at night then pick up food from elsewhere and eat alone.
Mason Evans (Hoggard High School Wilmington, NC)
My family never eats at the same time and many times the dinner does not focus on the food. Writing a passage about dinner with my family would begin with describing the food but would quickly diverge into the completely random conversations that take place. Don’t get me wrong, the food is always incredible, but that is never at the forefront of our minds when we laugh and reminisce at the table. Dinner is the most substantial meal for me in both a physical and a mental sense. Dinner is when I can explain my troubles to my family or cheer myself up with hilarious conversations. Dinner is a time for me to get away from my electronics because the most important rule of dinner is no phones without asking. Dinner is how my family is defined.
Trey Millet (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
For dinner on a typical weeknight I eat pizza, ham and turkey sandwiches, grilled cheese, Spaghetti and meatballs, or even some fried chicken. For me dinner is the most substantial meal of the day because it is where I feel like I have time to eat some really good food and spend time with my parents. Dinner is also where I feel most at peace because i'm not rushed to eat and I enjoy chilling with my parents. So, dinner for me is a tradition that I would like to hand down and always remember as my most substantial meal of the day.
Victoria Macuil (Bryant High School, Arkansas)
Being the youngest in my family, I didn’t really experience weekly family night dinners at home as often as I would like. Due to my brothers leaving home and creating a new life with busy schedules. So, during the weekdays I usually start dinner with my mom at 6 or sometimes wait until 8 to eat with my dad. But it isn’t the same without everyone in the table, and we fill that void with entertainment. Except for Sundays, after church, where my mom decks out meals that she prepare for days, serving traditional Mexican dishes such as barbacoa or chile rellenos. As it's the day where everyone is together and talking about our troubles that were filled during the week. Joking about it, laughing it off, or giving advice toward our problems. Sunday dinner is a time where we all unite as a family and as quoted by Katia Barragán. “All the important things are discussed, celebrated and mourned around food.”
Charlotte Todd (Hoggard High School)
In my house I love dinner because while we all have the craziest schedules, we always find a time to sit and eat together. My mom and sister eat with me usually around 9 ish, my mom cools two meals because I'm vegetarian and can't have dairy so it's always something new. We switch it up every night and each of us will pick a meal per night. The food ranges from Indian Currie to something as simple as pasta. At the table me and my sister make jokes and my mom is always confused so she'll change the subject and ask about our days. Dinner is really the only time in the week that I get to sit with my family other than being in a car driving to practices. It may be unimportant to some people but I am grateful my family eats together no matter what time. I enjoy the little moments at the table because I know I won't always have that and not everyone does.
Madison Everhart (Hoggard High School Wilmington, NC)
Typically my family all gathers around the dinner table around 7ish to eat and talk about our days sometimes (mostly weekends) we don't get to do it because everybody is somewhere else other then home. We eat a well homemade dish that my mom prepares for us so we aren't hungry when we go to sleep for the night.
Avi Oza (Montgomery, New Jersey)
My family eats mostly Indian food. This is similar to the people in the article because they all ate food from the place they lived in. The Italian dinner was the most appealing because I love Italian food, and the food sounded delicious. My family eats Indian food, and occasionally, we eat Chinese or Italian food. Dinner is the most substantial meal, with the most food, and time to prepare. I always set the table with my brother, and also clear up after myself. My mom usually does the most cooking work, but once in a while, my dad does. Mostly, my family eats home cooked food, but once in a while, we will eat at a restaurant. For my family, dinner is the time when we discuss what our day has been like. We also celebrate accomplishments and discuss sad news. Dinner is the best meal of the day for me.